Therapeutic Compositions and Methods

ABSTRACT

This invention relates the use of cortisol blockers (glucocorticoid receptor [GR] antagonists) for the prevention or addiction induced anxiety and withdrawal side effects as a therapeutic and in concert with a diagnostic. Such addictions could be, but are not limited to, alcohol, drugs, caffeine, sugar, food, nicotine, etc. The present invention further relates to the use of cortisol blockers (GR antagonists) for wound healing and transplants, the prevention or treatment of stress induced osteoporosis and the rapid healing of bone related injuries, and regenerative therapy.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/741,925, filed Jul. 30, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates the use of cortisol blockers (glucocorticoid receptor [GR] antagonists) for the prevention or addiction induced anxiety and withdrawal side effects as a therapeutic and in concert with a diagnostic. Such addictions could be, but are not limited to, alcohol, drugs, caffeine, sugar, food, nicotine, etc. The present invention further relates to the use of cortisol blockers (GR antagonists) for wound healing and transplants, the prevention or treatment osteoporosis, whether stress induced or related to dysregulated or elevated cortisol of the elderly, and the rapid healing of bone related injuries, and stem cell-related regenerative therapies.

2. Description of Related Art

ORG 34517 is one of a class of therapeutic agents designed to block the glucorticoid receptor (GR), acting as an antagonist for endogenous cortisol. Its primary developmental pathway has been as a treatment for neuropsychiatric diseases that are characterized by dysregulated signaling in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, often with higher than normal circulating levels of endogenous cortisol. Of particular note are the phase 2 clinical trials that have been completed for the treatment of psychotic depression. Other possible uses in this disease category which are under investigation include: post-traumatic stress disorder, weight gain in patients requiring long term anti-psychotic medication, hospital delirium of the elderly, etc.

The present invention provides a low cost rapid response diagnostic system to determine salivary cortisol levels in patients selected as potential candidates for GCR (glucocorticoid receptor) antagonist therapy utilizing a GCR antagonist such as ORG 34517. (See U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20120201747 (Altschul et al.), incorporated herein in its entirety).

The endogenous glucocorticoids are steroids predominantly produced in the adrenal cortex. Glucocorticoids are important steroids for intermediary metabolism, immune, musculosceletal, connective tissue and brain function. The main glucocorticoid in the body is cortisol. The production and secretion of cortisol is governed by a complex and highly efficient system that includes the hypothalamus, pituitary and the adrenal glands i.e., hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA). Cortisol secretion has a circadian release rhythm with peak values in early morning and trough values at midnight.

The production and secretion of the most important glucocorticoid, cortisol, is governed by a complex and highly efficient system that includes the hypothalamus, pituitary and the adrenal glands i.e., hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Cortisol secretion is regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus into a circadian release rhythm. The timing is synchronized with the solar day by dark-light shifts, which normally reflect the habitual sleep-wake pattern. Therefore in healthy persons, the cortisol secretion has a 24-hour circadian pattern with peak serum levels in the early morning, 3-6 hours after onset of sleep, and nadir levels around midnight. Physical and psychological stressors also activate cortisol secretion. Changed patterns of serum cortisol levels have been observed in connection with abnormal adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), levels, clinical depression, psychological stress, and physiological stressors such as hypoglycemia, illness, fever, trauma, surgery, fear, pain, physical exertion, or temperature extremes. Cortisol levels and responsiveness may also differ from normal for elderly individuals and in individuals with autism or Asperger's syndrome.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) such as, in humans, cortisol, perform several important functions. These include participating in the regulation of carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism by signaling the liver to make glucose and glycogen, the adipose tissues to release lipids and fatty acids into the bloodstream, and the skeletal muscles to release proteins or amino acids into the bloodstream. GCs also decrease bone formation.

GCs also regulate the body's inflammatory response as well. GCs are part of the feedback mechanism in the immune system that inhibits immune activity (i.e., inflammation). GCs cause their effects by binding to the GCR. The activated GCR complex in turn up-regulates the expression of anti-inflammatory proteins in the nucleus (a process known as transactivation) and represses the expression of pro-inflammatory proteins in the cytosol by preventing the translocation of other transcription factors from the cytosol into the nucleus (transrepression) (Rhen T and Cidlowski J A. NEJM 2005; 353: 1711-23).

GCR antagonist therapy is helpful in patients with abnormally high levels of cortisol (but maintained circadian rhythm), over responsiveness to normal levels, or high night time cortisol levels as a feature of disrupted circadian rhythm. Such altered cortisol physiology may relate to acute or chronic stress (e.g. related to physical or psychological trauma) or as an age related change in elderly individuals. Successful therapeutic use of such agents is thus often dependent on determining circadian cortisol levels (either peak levels during the day, e.g., at noon, or measurements taken every 4 hours or 6 hours over a 24 hour period). This combined system of salivary cortisol quantification as an enabling device for its paired GCR antagonist will identify individuals for whom GCR antagonist therapy has a benefit.

The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is expressed at high levels in some normal tissues, but not in others. Likewise, malignant tumors of diverse types and sites have variable GR expression. When present in normal or tumor (benign or malignant) tissues, this GR expression may be variously located in some or all of their cellular sub-compartments: 1. stem cells; 2. progenitor (so called “transit amplifying”) cell descendents of activated stem cells; and 3. differentiated progeny of activated stem or progenitor cells.

The present invention therefore relates to the use of GR antagonists (e.g., ORG 34517—a relatively specific GR antagonist, RU486—a non-specific GR antagonist, and others) for the prevention or addiction induced anxiety and withdrawal side effects as a therapeutic, for wound healing and transplants, for the prevention or treatment of osteoporosis, whether stress induced or related to dysregulated or elevated cortisol of the elderly, and for the rapid healing of bone related injuries, and stem-cell regenerative therapies.

To avoid possible negative side effects of systemic blockade of GR, the present invention further relates to localized treatment with GR antagonists through direct application to, for example, bone fracture areas, to cells, tissues or organs outside of the body in advance of transplantation or injection for pre-therapeutic conditioning, or to topically to traumatic wound sites.

All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a method for treating or preventing addiction, addiction induced anxiety, and/or withdrawal symptoms wherein said method comprises administering to a patient in need of such therapy at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist in a therapeutically effective amount. The invention provides a method wherein the at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist is in a pharmaceutical preparation. The invention provides a method wherein the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist is selected from the group consisting of ORG 34517, 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives, and 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives of formula I

wherein A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring containing 2 heteroatoms which are not connected to each other and independently selected from O and S, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms, or A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring wherein no double C—C bonds are present, containing 1 heteroatom selected from O and S, which heteroatom is connected to the phenyl group at the position indicated with an asterisk, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms; R1 is H or 1-oxo(1-4C)alkyl; R2 is H, (1-8C)alkyl, halogen or CF3; X is selected from (H,OH), O, and NOH; and the interrupted line represents an optional bond.

The invention provides a method of treating or preventing addiction, addiction induced anxiety, and/or withdrawal symptoms in a patient in need thereof, comprising: administering a composition comprising: i) a first therapeutic agent which is a GCR antagonist, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; ii) at least one or possibly more additional therapeutic agent(s) selected from the group consisting of anxiolytics, antidepressants, neuroleptics, or other psychotropic medications and combinations thereof; and iii) at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the first and second therapeutic agents are each present in an amount which, in combination, is a therapeutically effective amount for treating or preventing addiction, addiction induced anxiety, and/or withdrawal symptoms.

The invention provides a method wherein the second therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of at least one anti-anxiety drug, at least one anti-depressant drug, and at least one neuroleptic medication and combinations thereof, wherein the at least one anti-anxiety drug is selected from the group consisting of alprazolam, bromazepam, diazepam, lorazepam, clonazepam, temazepam, oxazepam, flunitrazepam, triazolam, chlordiazepoxide, flurazepam, estazolam, nitrazepam, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, isomers, and mixtures thereof; and/or at least one anti-depressant drug selected from the group consisting of citalopram, escitalopram oxalate, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, dapoxetine; venlafaxine and duloxetine; harmaline, iproniazid, isocarboxazid, nialamide, pargyline, phenelzine, selegiline, toloxatone, tranylcypromine, brofaromine, moclobemide; amitriptyline, amoxapine, butriptyline, clomipramine, desipramine, dibenzepin, dothiepin, doxepin, imipramine, iprindole, lofepramine, melitracen, nortriptyline, opipramol, protriptyline, trimipramine; maprotiline, mianserin, nefazodone, trazodone, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, isomers, and combinations thereof, and/or at least one neuroleptic drug selected from the group consisting of Haloperidol, Droperidol, Benperidol, Triperidol, Melperone, Lenperone, azaperone, Domperidone, risperidone, Chlorpromazine, Fluphenazine, Perphenazine, Prochlorperazine, Thioridazine, Trifluoperazine, Mesoridazine, Periciazine, Promazine, Triflupromazine, Levomepromazine, Promethazine, Pimozide, Cyamemazine, Chlorprothixene, Clopenthixol, Flupenthixol, Thiothixene, Zuclopenthixol, Clozapine, Olanzapine, Risperidone, Quetiapine, Ziprasidone, Amisulpride, Asenapine, Paliperidone, Iloperidone, Zotepine, Sertindole, Lurasidone, Aripiprazole, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, isomers, and combinations thereof.

The invention provides a method wherein the GCR antagonist is selected from the group consisting of ORG 34517, 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives, and 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives of formula I

wherein A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring containing 2 heteroatoms which are not connected to each other and independently selected from O and S, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms, or A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring wherein no double C—C bonds are present, containing 1 heteroatom selected from O and S, which heteroatom is connected to the phenyl group at the position indicated with an asterisk, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms; R1 is H or 1-oxo(1-4C)alkyl; R2 is H, (1-8C)alkyl, halogen or CF3; X is selected from (H,OH), O, and NOH; and the interrupted line represents an optional bond.

The invention provides a method of treating or preventing addiction, addiction induced anxiety, and/or withdrawal symptoms in a patient, comprising the steps of: a) obtaining a test sample from the patient, optionally at a predetermined time, using a test sample collection unit; b) combining said test sample with a buffering system to form a mixture in a reaction unit; c) measuring a parameter of the mixture to determine a blank measurement; d) combining said test sample and buffer mixture with a labeled ligand which binds cortisol, wherein the labeled ligand is provided in a label unit, in the reaction unit to produce an assay solution; or combining said test sample and buffer mixture and delivering it to a carrier containing a labeled ligand which binds cortisol, wherein the labeled ligand is provided in a label unit, in the reaction unit to produce an assay immobilized complex; e) measuring a parameter of said assay solution or complex; f) comparing the measurement of the assay solution relative to the blank measurement; g) determining the patient's circulating cortisol levels based on the change of the measurement; h) comparing the measured cortisol levels to a predetermined reference range cortisol levels, wherein when the level of cortisol is elevated relative to the a predetermined reference range, then the patient has elevated cortisol, and thus is suitable for GCR (glucocorticoid receptor) antagonist therapy; and i) when the patient is suitable for GCR antagonist therapy, administering at least one GCR antagonist, thereby treating or preventing addiction, addiction induced anxiety, and/or withdrawal symptoms in the patient.

The invention provides a method wherein the patient's test sample is selected from the group consisting of saliva, blood, plasma, serum, urine, other bodily fluids, and combinations thereof. The invention provides a method wherein the sample is obtained from the patient one time, selected from the group consisting of morning, noon, and evening. The invention provides a method wherein the sample is obtained from the patient over more than one time, and the predetermined time is selected to determine the nature of the cortisol circadian rhythm (including its possible disruption or elimination) from the group consisting of morning, noon, and evening. The invention provides a method wherein the sample is obtained from the patient over consecutive days. The invention provides a method wherein the method is to determine the circadian cycle of the cortisol levels in the patient, and the predetermined time is selected from the group consisting of hourly, every 4 hours, every 6 hours, every 8 hours, and every 12 hours. The invention provides a method wherein the predetermined reference range is a medically standard reference range. The invention provides a method wherein the predetermined reference range is the patient's previously measured level. The invention provides a method wherein the ligand is detectably labeled with a moiety selected from the group consisting of a radioisotope, a fluorophore, a quencher of fluorescence, an enzyme, an affinity tag, and an epitope tag. The invention provides a method wherein said measuring of said parameter of said mixture and said assay solution is performed using a method selected from spectroscopic, photochemical, radiochemical, biochemical, enzymatic, immunochemical, chemical label displacement, surface plasmon resonance, fluorescence resonance energy transfer, fluorescence quenching, lateral flow, and fluorescence polarization means.

The invention provides a method wherein the GCR (glucocorticoid receptor) antagonist is selected from the group consisting of ORG 34517, 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives, and 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives of formula I

wherein A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring containing 2 heteroatoms which are not connected to each other and independently selected from O and S, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms, or A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring wherein no double C—C bonds are present, containing 1 heteroatom selected from O and S, which heteroatom is connected to the phenyl group at the position indicated with an asterisk, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms; R1 is H or 1-oxo(1-4C)alkyl; R2 is H, (1-8C)alkyl, halogen or CF3; X is selected from (H,OH), O, and NOH; and the interrupted line represents an optional bond.

The invention provides a kit for treating or preventing addiction, addiction induced anxiety, and/or withdrawal symptoms comprising: (a) a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist in a therapeutically effective amount; and (b) at least one blister package; a lidded blister; a blister card or packet; a clamshell; an intravenous (IV) package, IV packette or IV container; a tray or a shrink wrap comprising the pharmaceutical composition of (a) and instructions for use of the pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing addiction, addiction induced anxiety, and/or withdrawal symptoms.

The invention provides a product of manufacture for treating or preventing addiction, addiction induced anxiety, and/or withdrawal symptoms comprising a blister package; a lidded blister; a blister card or packet; a clamshell; an intravenous (IV) package, IV packette or IV container; a tray or a shrink wrap comprising a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, and instructions for treating or preventing addiction, addiction induced anxiety, and/or withdrawal symptoms.

The invention provides a method for treating bone fracture and/or a bone related injury wherein said method comprises administering, to a patient in need of such therapy, at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist in a therapeutically effective amount. The invention provides a method wherein the at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist is in a pharmaceutical preparation. The invention provides a method wherein the GCR (glucocorticoid receptor) antagonist is selected from the group consisting of ORG 34517, 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives, and 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives of formula I

wherein A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring containing 2 heteroatoms which are not connected to each other and independently selected from O and S, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms, or A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring wherein no double C—C bonds are present, containing 1 heteroatom selected from O and S, which heteroatom is connected to the phenyl group at the position indicated with an asterisk, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms; R1 is H or 1-oxo(1-4C)alkyl; R2 is H, (1-8C)alkyl, halogen or CF3; X is selected from (H,OH), O, and NOH; and the interrupted line represents an optional bond. The invention provides a method wherein the GCR antagonist is administered intravenously, intradermally, intraarterially, intraperitoneally, intralesionally, intracranially, intraarticularly, intraprostaticaly, intrapleurally, intratracheally, intranasally, intrathecally, intravitreally, intravaginally, intrarectally, intratumorally, intramuscularly, intraperitoneally, intraocularly, subcutaneously, subconjunctival, intravesicularlly, mucosally, intrapericardially, intraumbilically, intraocularally, orally, topically, locally, by inhalation, by injection, by infusion, by continuous infusion, by localized perfusion, by direct application during surgery, via a catheter, via a lavage, or through catheterization, immersion, absorption, or adsorption. The invention provides a method wherein the method comprises administering the pharmaceutical composition to tissue surrounding the fracture. The invention provides a method wherein administration of the pharmaceutical composition comprises injecting the pharmaceutical composition into tissue surrounding the fracture. The invention provides a method wherein the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist is selected from the group consisting of ORG 34517, 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives, and 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives of formula I

wherein A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring containing 2 heteroatoms which are not connected to each other and independently selected from O and S, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms, or A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring wherein no double C—C bonds are present, containing 1 heteroatom selected from O and S, which heteroatom is connected to the phenyl group at the position indicated with an asterisk, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms; R1 is H or 1-oxo(1-4C)alkyl; R2 is H, (1-8C)alkyl, halogen or CF3; X is selected from (H,OH), O, and NOH; and the interrupted line represents an optional bond.

The invention provides a kit for treating bone fracture and/or a bone related injury comprising: (a) a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist in a therapeutically effective amount; and (b) at least one blister package; a lidded blister; a blister card or packet; a clamshell; an intravenous (IV) package, IV packette or IV container; a tray or a shrink wrap comprising the pharmaceutical composition of (a) and instructions for use of the pharmaceutical composition for treating bone fracture and/or a bone related injury.

The invention provides a product of manufacture for treating bone fracture and/or a bone related injury comprising a blister package; a lidded blister; a blister card or packet; a clamshell; an intravenous (IV) package, IV packette or IV container; a tray or a shrink wrap comprising a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, and instructions for treating bone fracture and/or a bone related injury.

The invention provides a method for treating or preventing osteoporosis, whether stress induced or related to dysregulated or elevated cortisol of the elderly, wherein said method comprises administering, to a patient in need of such therapy, at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist in a therapeutically effective amount. The invention provides a method wherein the at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist is in a pharmaceutical preparation.

The invention provides a method wherein the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist is selected from the group consisting of ORG 34517, 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives, and 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives of formula I

wherein A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring containing 2 heteroatoms which are not connected to each other and independently selected from O and S, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms, or A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring wherein no double C—C bonds are present, containing 1 heteroatom selected from O and S, which heteroatom is connected to the phenyl group at the position indicated with an asterisk, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms; R1 is H or 1-oxo(1-4C)alkyl; R2 is H, (1-8C)alkyl, halogen or CF3; X is selected from (H,OH), O, and NOH; and the interrupted line represents an optional bond. The invention provides a method wherein the GCR antagonist is administered intravenously, intradermally, intraarterially, intraperitoneally, intralesionally, intracranially, intraarticularly, intranasally, intrarectally, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, orally, topically, locally, by inhalation, by injection, by infusion, by continuous infusion, by localized perfusion, by direct application during surgery, via a catheter, via a lavage, or through catheterization, immersion, absorption, or adsorption.

The invention provides a kit for treating or preventing osteoporosis, whether stress induced or related to dysregulated or elevated cortisol of the elderly, comprising: (a) a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist in a therapeutically effective amount; and (b) at least one blister package; a lidded blister; a blister card or packet; a clamshell; an intravenous (IV) package, IV packette or IV container; a tray or a shrink wrap comprising the pharmaceutical composition of (a) and instructions for use of the pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing stress induced osteoporosis.

The invention provides a product of manufacture for treating or preventing osteoporosis, whether stress induced or related to dysregulated or elevated cortisol of the elderly, comprising a blister package; a lidded blister; a blister card or packet; a clamshell; an intravenous (IV) package, IV packette or IV container; a tray or a shrink wrap comprising a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, and instructions for treating or preventing osteoporosis, whether stress induced or related to dysregulated or elevated cortisol of the elderly.

The invention provides a method for enhancing post-transplant functioning of stem cells in a patient in need of such treatment comprising the steps of: providing stem cells, whether embryonic stem cells, stem cells derived from embryonic stem cells or their differentiated progeny, induced pluripotent stem cells or their progeny, fetal stem cells or their differentiated progeny, and post-natal (adult) stem cells or their differentiated progeny, or of tissues derived from any of these, treating the stem cells or stem cell-derived, differentiated progeny with at least one GCR antagonist in preparation for transplanatation; and introducing the treated stem cells into the patient.

The invention provides a method wherein the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist is selected from the group consisting of ORG 34517, 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives, and 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives of formula I

wherein A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring containing 2 heteroatoms which are not connected to each other and independently selected from O and S, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms, or A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring wherein no double C—C bonds are present, containing 1 heteroatom selected from O and S, which heteroatom is connected to the phenyl group at the position indicated with an asterisk, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms; R1 is H or 1-oxo(1-4C)alkyl; R2 is H, (1-8C)alkyl, halogen or CF3; X is selected from (H,OH), O, and NOH; and the interrupted line represents an optional bond. The invention provides a method wherein the treated stem cells are administered intravenously, intradermally, intraarterially, intraperitoneally, intralesionally, intracranially, intraarticularly, intraprostaticaly, intrapleurally, intratracheally, intranasally, intrathecally, intravitreally, intravaginally, intrarectally, intratumorally, intramuscularly, intraperitoneally, intraocularly, subcutaneously, subconjunctival, intravesicularly, mucosally, intrapericardially, intraumbilically, intraocularally, orally, topically, locally, by inhalation, by injection, by infusion, by continuous infusion, by localized perfusion, by direct application during surgery, via a catheter, via a lavage, or through catheterization, immersion, absorption, or adsorption.

The invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for enhancing post-transplant functioning of stem cells in mammals, comprising: a therapeutically effective amount of the treated stem cells, whether embryonic stem cells, stem cells derived from embryonic stem cells or their differentiated progeny, induced pluripotent stem cells or their progeny, fetal stem cells or their differentiated progeny, and post-natal (adult) stem cells or their differentiated progeny, or of tissues derived from any of these; and a pharmaceutically acceptable medium or carrier.

The invention provides a method for reducing post-transplant rejection of a transplanted organ and/or improving graft functioning and survival comprising the steps of: providing an organ to be transplanted; treating the organ with a GCR antagonist prior to transplantation: and implanting the organ to a patient in need of such treatment. The invention provides a method wherein the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist is selected from the group consisting of ORG 34517, 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives, and 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives of formula I

wherein A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring containing 2 heteroatoms which are not connected to each other and independently selected from O and S, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms, or A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring wherein no double C—C bonds are present, containing 1 heteroatom selected from O and S, which heteroatom is connected to the phenyl group at the position indicated with an asterisk, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms; R1 is H or 1-oxo(1-4C)alkyl; R2 is H, (1-8C)alkyl, halogen or CF3; X is selected from (H,OH), O, and NOH; and the interrupted line represents an optional bond. The invention provides a method for reducing post-transplantation rejection and/or improving graft functioning and survival comprising treating a patient in need of such treatment with a GCR antagonist. The invention provides a method wherein the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist is selected from the group consisting of ORG 34517, 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives, and 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives of formula I

wherein A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring containing 2 heteroatoms which are not connected to each other and independently selected from O and S, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms, or A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring wherein no double C—C bonds are present, containing 1 heteroatom selected from O and S, which heteroatom is connected to the phenyl group at the position indicated with an asterisk, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms; R1 is H or 1-oxo(1-4C)alkyl; R2 is H, (1-8C)alkyl, halogen or CF3; X is selected from (H,OH), O, and NOH; and the interrupted line represents an optional bond. The invention provides a method wherein the GCR antagonist is administered to the organ graft, prior to transplantation, intravascularly, intraarterially, intravenously or in a tissue or immersion of the whole or part of the organ.

The invention provides a kit for reducing post-transplantation rejection and/or improving graft functioning and survival comprising: (a) a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist in a therapeutically effective amount; and (b) organ preservation fluid.

The invention provides a kit for reducing post-transplantation rejection and/or improving graft functioning and survival comprising: (a) a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist in a therapeutically effective amount; and (b) at least one blister package; a lidded blister; a blister card or packet; a clamshell; an intravenous (IV) package, IV packette or IV container; a tray or a shrink wrap comprising the pharmaceutical composition of (a) and instructions for use of the pharmaceutical composition for reducing post-transplantation rejection.

The invention provides a product of manufacture for reducing post-transplantation rejection comprising a blister package; a lidded blister; a blister card or packet; a clamshell; an intravenous (IV) package, IV packette or IV container; a tray or a shrink wrap comprising a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, and instructions for reducing post-transplantation rejection and/or improving post-transplant graft functioning and survival.

The invention provides a method for improving wound healing and preventing excessive scar formation in a patient in need thereof, comprising administering to a mammal a therapeutically effective amount of glucocorticoid receptor antagonist. The invention provides a method wherein the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist is selected from the group consisting of ORG 34517, 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives, and 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives of formula I

wherein A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring containing 2 heteroatoms which are not connected to each other and independently selected from O and S, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms, or A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring wherein no double C—C bonds are present, containing 1 heteroatom selected from O and S, which heteroatom is connected to the phenyl group at the position indicated with an asterisk, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms; R1 is H or 1-oxo(1-4C)alkyl; R2 is H, (1-8C)alkyl, halogen or CF3; X is selected from (H,OH), O, and NOH; and the interrupted line represents an optional bond. The invention provides a method wherein the wound is treated with glucocorticoid receptor antagonist whereby the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist is administered intravenously, intradermally, intraarterially, intraperitoneally, intralesionally, intracranially, intraarticularly, intraprostaticaly, intrapleurally, intratracheally, intranasally, intrathecally, intravitreally, intravaginally, intrarectally, intratumorally, intramuscularly, intraperitoneally, intraocularly, subcutaneously, subconjunctival, intravesicularlly, mucosally, intrapericardially, intraumbilically, intraocularally, orally, topically, locally, by inhalation, by injection, by infusion, by continuous infusion, by localized perfusion, by direct application during surgery, via a catheter, via a lavage, or through catheterization, immersion, absorption, or adsorption, or by topical application of bandage, gauze or sutures impregnated with antagonist.

The invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for improving wound healing and prevention of excessive scarring, comprising: a therapeutically effective amount of the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, selected from the group consisting of ORG 34517, 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives, and 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives of formula I

wherein A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring containing 2 heteroatoms which are not connected to each other and independently selected from O and S, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms, or A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring wherein no double C—C bonds are present, containing 1 heteroatom selected from O and S, which heteroatom is connected to the phenyl group at the position indicated with an asterisk, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms; R1 is H or 1-oxo(1-4C)alkyl; R2 is H, (1-8C)alkyl, halogen or CF3; X is selected from (H,OH), O, and NOH; and the interrupted line represents an optional bond; and a pharmaceutically acceptable medium or carrier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals designate like elements and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows ORG 34517 co-administration with ethanol significantly reduces ethanol withdrawal behavioral abnormalities. (FIG. 1A). Once daily administration of the selective glucocorticoid receptor antagonist ORG34517 (20 mg/kg; s.c.) immediately prior to binge ethanol administration (i.g.) at 0800 hrs on 4 consecutive days significantly reduced behavioral symptoms of the ethanol withdrawal syndrome in adult male rats. Reductions in whole body tremor and wet shakes were most evident. *=P<0.05 vs control; **=P<0.001 vs ethanol withdrawal (EtOH WD). (FIG. 1B). Peak blood ethanol levels were 180.27-103.5 mg/dl across the 4 day regimen. Administration of ORG 34517 to ethanol-naïve rats did not alter behavior in any manner. Further, mean intoxication ratings, determined 8 hrs after each of 3 ethanol administrations per day, over 4 days, were not altered by ORG34517 administration, as compared to intoxication ratings obtained in animals receiving ethanol and ORG 34517 vehicle only.

FIG. 2 shows Corticosterone's exacerbation of ethanol withdrawal toxicity is blocked by ORG 3457 coadministration. (FIG. 2A). Exposure of organotypic hippocampal slice cultures to corticosterone (1 μM) with ethanol (50 mM), followed by 1 day of ethanol withdrawal in the presence of corticosterone produce significant toxicity (uptake of the non-vital nuclear marker propidium iodide, pseudocolored red, shown below) in CA1 region pyramidal cells (20×). Exposure to corticosterone or ORG 34517HCl (100 μM) alone did not alter propidium iodide uptake. Co-exposure to the selective glucocorticoid receptor antagonist ORG 34517 with ethanol and corticosterone prevented this withdrawal toxicity. Representative PI images above, (FIG. 2B). Results shown in graph form. *=P<0.05 vs control; **=P<0.05 vs EtOH WD+CORT.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the use of GR antagonists (e.g., ORG 34517, RU486, and others) for the prevention or addiction induced anxiety and withdrawal side effects as a therapeutic, for wound healing and transplants, for the prevention or treatment of stress induced osteoporosis and for the rapid healing of bone related injuries, and regenerative therapy.

An amount is “effective” as used herein, when the amount provides an effect in the subject. As used herein, the term “effective amount” means an amount of a compound or composition sufficient to significantly induce a positive benefit, including independently or in combinations the benefits disclosed herein, but low enough to avoid serious side effects, i.e., to provide a reasonable benefit to risk ratio, within the scope of sound judgment of the skilled artisan. For those skilled in the art, the effective amount, as well as dosage and frequency of administration, may easily be determined according to their knowledge and standard methodology of merely routine experimentation based on the present disclosure.

As used herein, the terms “subject” and “patient” are used interchangeably. As used herein, the term “patient” refers to an animal, preferably a mammal such as a non-primate (e.g., cows, pigs, horses, cats, dogs, rats etc.) and a primate (e.g., monkey and human), and most preferably a human. In some embodiments, the subject is a non-human animal such as a farm animal (e.g., a horse, pig, or cow) or a pet (e.g., a dog or cat). In a specific embodiment, the subject is an elderly human. In another embodiment, the subject is a human adult. In another embodiment, the subject is a human child. In yet another embodiment, the subject is a human infant.

As used herein, the phrase “pharmaceutically acceptable” means approved by a regulatory agency of the federal or a state government, or listed in the U.S. Pharmacopeia, European Pharmacopeia, or other generally recognized pharmacopeia for use in animals, and more particularly, in humans.

As used herein, the terms “prevent,” “preventing” and “prevention” in the context of the administration of a therapy to a subject refer to the prevention or inhibition of the recurrence, onset, and/or development of a disease or condition, or a combination of therapies (e.g., a combination of prophylactic or therapeutic agents).

As used herein, the terms “therapies” and “therapy” can refer to any method(s), composition(s), and/or agent(s) that can be used in the prevention, treatment and/or management of a disease or condition, or one or more symptoms thereof.

As used herein, the terms “treat,” “treatment,” and “treating” in the context of the administration of a therapy to a subject refer to the reduction or inhibition of the progression and/or duration of a disease or condition, the reduction or amelioration of the severity of a disease or condition, and/or the amelioration of one or more symptoms thereof resulting from the administration of one or more therapies.

Glucocorticoid Receptor

The glucocorticoid receptor is widely distributed and expressed in many cultured cell lines, and the control of gene expression by glucocorticoids, therefore, has been widely studied as a model for transcriptional regulation. A number of glucocorticoid-responsive transcription units, including mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) (Ringold, et al., 1975; Parks, et al., 1974), mouse and human metallothionein (Eager, et al., 1981; Karin, et al., 1980), rat alpha₂M-globulin (Kurtz, et al., 1977) and rat and human growth hormone (Spindler, et al., 1982; Evans, et al., 1982; Robins, et al., 1982) genes have been identified. DNA sequences mediating transcriptional stimulation of several of these genes have been localized. For MMTV, these sequences are discrete genomic regions upstream of the transcriptional start site which appear to exert their actions independently of orientation and position (Chandler, et al., 1983; Ostrowski, et al., 1984). The steroid/receptor complex appears to bind to these regulatory sequences and purified receptor has been used to define the specific binding sites (Govinda, et al., 1982; Scheidereit, et al., 1983; Pfahl, 1982; Payvar, et al., 1983). The ability of the glucocorticoid-responsive element (GRE) to alter its position and orientation yet still maintain promoter inducibility suggests that it resembles the class of cis-acting regulatory sequences termed enhancers (Chandler, et al., 1983). First discovered in viruses and subsequently in cellular genes, these sequences are necessary for efficient transcription in vivo (Laimonis, et al., 1982; Benoist, et al., 1981; Baerji, et al., 1983). It has been suggested that enhancers are recognized by trans-acting factors that mediate regulatory effects by tissue-specific transcriptional control. Although the enhancer factors have not been well characterized, the glucocorticoid receptor may serve as a paradigm for these putative gene activator proteins.

It is generally accepted that the unliganded glucocorticoid receptor (GR) resides in the cytoplasm, and that hormone activation leads both to nuclear accumulation and gene activation. (Gasc, J.-M. & Baulieu, E. E. (1987) in Steroid Hormone Receptors: Their Intracellular Localisation, ed. Clark, C. R. (Ellis Horwood Ltd., Chichester, England), pp. 233-250; Beato, M. (1989) Cell 56, 335-344; Carson-Jurica, M. A., Schrader, W. T. & O'Malley, B. W. (1990) Endocr. Rev. 11, 201-220; Gronemeyer, H. (1993) in Steroid Hormone Action, ed. Parker, M. G. (Oxford University Press, New York), pp. 94-117; Tsai, M. J. & O'Malley, B. W. (1994) Annu. Rev. Biochem. 63, 451-486; Akner, G., Wikstrom, A. C. & Gustafsson, J. A. (1995) J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. 52, 1-16), and references therein. However, the mechanisms involved in nuclear translocation and targeting of steroid receptors to regulatory sites in chromatin have been poorly understood. It has previously been difficult to discriminate between the ability of a given receptor mutant, or a given receptor/ligand combination, to participate in the separate processes of receptor activation, nuclear translocation, sequence-specific binding, and promoter activation.

The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is expressed in a subset of both ERalpha-positive and -negative human breast cancers as well as in other malignancies such as some ovarian cancers, hepatocellular carcinoma, and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. In vitro and in vivo experiments suggest that activation of the GR in ER-negative pre-malignant breast epithelial and cancer cells initiates cell survival pathways under stress conditions that noiinally induce significant cell death (e.g. chemotherapy, radiation, growth factor deprivation).

The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is present in glucocorticoid responsive cells where it resides in the cytosol in an inactive state until it is stimulated by an agonist. Upon stimulation the glucocorticoid receptor translocates to the cell nucleus where it specifically interacts with DNA and/or protein(s) and regulates transcription in a glucocorticoid responsive manner. Two examples of proteins that interact with the glucocorticoid receptor are the transcription factors, API and NFkappa-B. Such interactions result in inhibition of API- and NFkappa-B-mediated transcription and are believed to be responsible for some of the anti-inflammatory activity of endogenously administered glucocorticoids. In addition, glucocorticoids may also exert physiologic effects independent of nuclear transcription. Biologically relevant glucocorticoid receptor agonists include cortisol and corticosterone. Many synthetic glucocorticoid receptor agonists exist including dexamethasone, prednisone and prednisolone.

Glucocorticoid Receptor Antagonists

Glucocorticoid receptor antagonists bind to the receptor and prevent glucocorticoid receptor agonists from binding and eliciting GR mediated events, including transcription. RU486 is an example of a non-selective glucocorticoid receptor antagonist.

Compounds having high glucocorticoid receptor binding affinity and, in addition, high in vivo anti-glucocorticoid activity, while having, for example, low androgenic and progestagenic activities are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,011,025, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. ORG 34517 is an example of a compound with high glucocorticoid receptor binding affinity while having low androgenic and progestagenic activities.

It has been found that 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives of formula I

wherein A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring containing 2 heteroatoms which are not connected to each other and independently selected from O and S, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms, or A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring wherein no double C—C bonds are present, containing 1 heteroatom selected from O and S, which heteroatom is connected to the phenyl group at the position indicated with an asterisk, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms; R1 is H or 1-oxo(1-4C)alkyl; R2 is H, (1-8C)alkyl, halogen or CF3; X is selected from (H,OH), O, and NOH; and the interrupted line represents an optional bond, show specific and high glucocorticoid receptor binding affinity and are highly active in vivo showing predominant anti-glucocorticoid activity.

The compounds lack appreciable affinity for mineralocorticoid, progesterone, estrogen and androgen receptors, indicating a clean side effect profile.

The 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives of the invention can be used in the prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid dependent diseases or symptoms, like Cushing syndrome, diabetes, glaucoma, sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, atherosclerosis, hypertension, adiposity, osteoporosis and withdrawal symptoms from narcotics and their mixtures.

Preferred compounds according to this invention are 11-(substituted phenyl)estra-4,9-diene derivatives, wherein the heteroatom(s) are (is) O, the 5- or 6-membered ring being optionally substituted with one or more fluorine atoms; R1 is H; and X is O or NOH. More preferred compounds are 11-(substituted phenyl) estra-4,9-diene derivatives wherein A is a residue of a 5-membered ring. Particularly preferred are 11-(substituted phenyl)estra-4,9-diene derivatives wherein A contains 2 heteroatoms being O.

Especially preferred are 11-(substituted phenyl)estra-4,9-diene derivatives wherein R2 is methyl and the interrupted line represents a bond. The most preferred compound is (11β,17β)-11-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-17-hydroxy-17-(1-propynyl)estra-4,9-dien-3-one (ORG 34517).

The term halogen means a fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine atom. Fluorine is the preferred halogen in ring A and when R2 is halogen, chlorine is preferred. The terms (1-4C)alkyl and (1-8C)alkyl, as used in the definitions of R1 and R2, respectively, mean alkyl groups having 1-4 and 1-8 carbon atoms, respectively, for example methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, neopentyl, hexyl, octyl.

The 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives according to the present invention can be prepared by a process wherein a compound of formula II

wherein A, R2 and the interrupted line have the meanings as previously defined, R1 is H, and P is a protected keto-group, is dehydrated and deprotected, after which the 17β-OH is optionally esterified by reaction with an appropriate carboxylic acid to give a derivative wherein R1 is 1-oxo(1-4C)alkyl, and optionally the 3-oxo group is converted into the corresponding 3-hydroxy- or 3-oxime derivative. The 3-oxo group can be reduced to form the 3-hydroxy-derivative by using a suitable reducing agent, such as sodium borohydride. The 3-oxime derivatives can be prepared by hydroxylamine treatment in a suitable solvent, like pyridine.

The derivatives of formula II may be prepared according to well known methods described and used for the preparation of steroids.

A suitable process for the preparation of derivatives of formula II starts from estra-4,9-diene-3,17-dione. Selective reduction of the 17-keto group to 17β-OH, 17α-H, e.g. with sodium borohydride, followed by protection of the 3-keto group, e.g., by ketalisation with ethyleneglycol, triethylorthoformate and p-toluenesulfonic acid, and oxidation of the 17-hydroxy group, e.g. with pyridinium chlorochromate, provides the 3-ketoprotected estra-5(10),9(11)-diene-3,17-dione. Alkynylation at the 17-position (yielding a 17α-alkynyl,17β-OH derivative), followed by epoxidation of the 5(10) double bond, e.g. with hydrogen peroxide, trifluoroacetophenone, and pyridine in dichloromethane according to the method as disclosed in European patent application EP 0 298 020, provides the 3-ketoprotected 5α,10α-epoxy-17α-alkynyl-17β-hydroxy-estr-9(11)-ene-3-one.

Subsequently, compounds of formula II are formed from this epoxide derivative, for example by reaction with an organometallic compound of the formula

wherein X is a (alkali)metal, like lithium, or a magnesiumhalide, preferably magnesium bromide.

Suitable protective groups and methods to remove these groups are known in the art, for example from T. W. Green: Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis (Wiley, NY, 1981). Particularly suitable protective groups for the protection of keto groups are acetals, e.g. 1,2-ethylene ketal.

The specificity of ORG 34517 for GR blockade, without significant cross-binding to other related steroidal hormone receptors (such as those for estrogen and progesterone), eliminates the likelihood of significant toxicities and side effects. Indeed, none were identified in all the substantial phase I and phase II clinical trials that already have been performed with the compound. Because the drug is envisioned as being used in limited dosing over time, coordinated with the intermittent dosing strategies typical for chemotherapeutic agents, the GR blockade also would not lead to significant alteration of HPA-axis functioning, with rapid restitution of the HPA-axis to baseline following dosing.

Combination Therapy

Compositions and methods for treating GC-responsive conditions, including for example, the prevention or addiction induced anxiety and withdrawal side effects as a therapeutic, for wound healing and transplants, for the prevention or treatment of stress induced osteoporosis and for the rapid healing of bone related injuries, and regenerative therapy, in a subject are provided by the present invention.

Methods of treating a GC-responsive condition in a subject are provided according to embodiments of the present invention which includes administering, in combination, a GR antagonist and at least one additional therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of at least one anti-anxiety drug, at least one anti-depressant drug, and at least one neuroleptic medication and combinations thereof, wherein the at least one anti-anxiety drug is selected from the group consisting of alprazolam, bromazepam, diazepam, lorazepam, clonazepam, temazepam, oxazepam, flunitrazepam, triazolam, chlordiazepoxide, flurazepam, estazolam, nitrazepam, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, isomers, and mixtures thereof; and/or at least one anti-depressant drug selected from the group consisting of citalopram, escitalopram oxalate, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, dapoxetine; venlafaxine and duloxetine; harmaline, iproniazid, isocarboxazid, nialamide, pargyline, phenelzine, selegiline, toloxatone, tranylcypromine, brofaromine, moclobemide; amitriptyline, amoxapine, butriptyline, clomipramine, desipramine, dibenzepin, dothiepin, doxepin, imipramine, iprindole, lofepramine, melitracen, nortriptyline, opipramol, protriptyline, trimipramine; maprotiline, mianserin, nefazodone, trazodone, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, isomers, and combinations thereof, and/or at least one neuroleptic drug selected from the group consisting of Haloperidol, Droperidol, Benperidol, Triperidol, Melperone, Lenperone, azaperone, Domperidone, risperidone, Chlorpromazine, Fluphenazine, Perphenazine, Prochlorperazine, Thioridazine, Trifluoperazine, Mesoridazine, Periciazine, Promazine, Triflupromazine, Levomepromazine, Promethazine, Pimozide, Cyamemazine, Chlorprothixene, Clopenthixol, Flupenthixol, Thiothixene, Zuclopenthixol, Clozapine, Olanzapine, Risperidone, Quetiapine, Ziprasidone, Amisulpride, Asenapine, Paliperidone, Iloperidone, Zotepine, Sertindole, Lurasidone, Aripiprazole, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, isomers, and combinations thereof. in therapeutically effective amounts. In certain embodiments the agents are administered in the same dosage form. In certain embodiments the therapeutic agents are administered separately.

In particular embodiments, the invention provides a composition a therapeutically effective amount of a GR antagonist and at least one additional therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of at least one anti-anxiety drug, at least one anti-depressant drug, and at least one neuroleptic medication and combinations thereof, wherein the at least one anti-anxiety drug is selected from the group consisting of alprazolam, bromazepam, diazepam, lorazepam, clonazepam, temazepam, oxazepam, flunitrazepam, triazolam, chlordiazepoxide, flurazepam, estazolam, nitrazepam, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, isomers, and mixtures thereof; and/or at least one anti-depressant drug selected from the group consisting of citalopram, escitalopram oxalate, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, dapoxetine; venlafaxine and duloxetine; harmaline, iproniazid, isocarboxazid, nialamide, pargyline, phenelzine, selegiline, toloxatone, tranylcypromine, brofaromine, moclobemide; amitriptyline, amoxapine, butriptyline, clomipramine, desipramine, dibenzepin, dothiepin, doxepin, imipramine, iprindole, lofepramine, melitracen, nortriptyline, opipramol, protriptyline, trimipramine; maprotiline, mianserin, nefazodone, trazodone, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, isomers, and combinations thereof, and/or at least one neuroleptic drug selected from the group consisting of Haloperidol, Droperidol, Benperidol, Triperidol, Melperone, Lenperone, azaperone, Domperidone, risperidone, Chlorpromazine, Fluphenazine, Perphenazine, Prochlorperazine, Thioridazine, Trifluoperazine, Mesoridazine, Periciazine, Promazine, Triflupromazine, Levomepromazine, Promethazine, Pimozide, Cyamemazine, Chlorprothixene, Clopenthixol, Flupenthixol, Thiothixene, Zuclopenthixol, Clozapine, Olanzapine, Risperidone, Quetiapine, Ziprasidone, Amisulpride, Asenapine, Paliperidone, Iloperidone, Zotepine, Sertindole, Lurasidone, Aripiprazole, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, isomers, and combinations thereof. In certain embodiments the agents are in the same dosage form. In certain embodiments the therapeutic agents are in separate dosage forms.

The phrase “administering in combination” as used herein refers to any form of administration of one or more GR antagonists and at least one additional therapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of at least one anti-anxiety drug, at least one anti-depressant drug, and at least one neuroleptic medication and combinations thereof, wherein the at least one anti-anxiety drug is selected from the group consisting of alprazolam, bromazepam, diazepam, lorazepam, clonazepam, temazepam, oxazepam, flunitrazepam, triazolam, chlordiazepoxide, flurazepam, estazolam, nitrazepam, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, isomers, and mixtures thereof; and/or at least one anti-depressant drug selected from the group consisting of citalopram, escitalopram oxalate, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, dapoxetine; venlafaxine and duloxetine; harmaline, iproniazid, isocarboxazid, nialamide, pargyline, phenelzine, selegiline, toloxatone, tranylcypromine, brofaromine, moclobemide; amitriptyline, amoxapine, butriptyline, clomipramine, desipramine, dibenzepin, dothiepin, doxepin, imipramine, iprindole, lofepramine, melitracen, nortriptyline, opipramol, protriptyline, trimipramine; maprotiline, mianserin, nefazodone, trazodone, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, isomers, and combinations thereof, and/or at least one neuroleptic drug selected from the group consisting of Haloperidol, Droperidol, Benperidol, Triperidol, Melperone, Lenperone, azaperone, Domperidone, risperidone, Chlorpromazine, Fluphenazine, Perphenazine, Prochlorperazine, Thioridazine, Trifluoperazine, Mesoridazine, Periciazine, Promazine, Triflupromazine, Levomepromazine, Promethazine, Pimozide, Cyamemazine, Chlorprothixene, Clopenthixol, Flupenthixol, Thiothixene, Zuclopenthixol, Clozapine, Olanzapine, Risperidone, Quetiapine, Ziprasidone, Amisulpride, Asenapine, Paliperidone, Iloperidone, Zotepine, Sertindole, Lurasidone, Aripiprazole, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, isomers, and combinations thereof, in therapeutically effective amounts. In certain embodiments the agents are in the same dosage form. In certain embodiments the therapeutic agents are in separate dosage forms.

Addiction and Withdrawal

The present invention relates to methods of and compositions for treating and relieving symptoms associated with substance abuse and withdrawal. The present invention relates to methods of and compositions for treating addiction to, for example, alcohol, drugs, caffeine, sugar, food, nicotine, opiates, and/or marijuana, etc.

Substance addiction and abuse is a multi-factorial neurological disease. Over time, repeated exposure to various substances, both endogenous and exogenous, causes modification of the neurotransmission circuits and adaptations in post-receptor signaling cascades. There are several effects of this neuronal modification. Among them, there is a reduction in the ability of natural rewards to activate the reward pathways leading to depressed motivation and mood and an increased compulsion to compensate for the physiological change.

While the common perception underlying addiction is that of a “reward circuit”, pleasure may not necessarily be a strong enough impetus to drive people towards their addictions. Rather, addictive behavior arises from an intense desire to manage and/or avoid the anxiety that arises when someone is experiencing withdrawal.

Traditional treatments for substance dependency, such as benzodiazepine abuse, have been based upon cognitive-behavioral therapy or drug therapy, or a combination thereof. Conventional methods of treatment fail, however, in that they do not address the physiochemical changes that occur with addiction and dependence. Thus, conventional treatments for controlling withdrawal symptoms and cravings for addictive substances have had limited success and often have undesirable side effects.

What is therefore needed are improved methods of, and compositions for, preventing addiction to, and physiological dependence upon addictive substances. What is also needed is an improved treatment methodology for controlling cravings and withdrawal symptoms caused by substance abuse.

Accordingly, the invention provides methods of, and compositions for, preventing addiction to, and physiological dependence upon addictive substances. Also provided are methods of and compositions for an improved treatment methodology for controlling cravings and withdrawal symptoms caused by substance abuse.

The present invention relates to the use of cortisol blockers (glucocorticoid receptor [GR] antagonists) for the prevention or addiction induced anxiety and withdrawal side effects as a therapeutic and in concert with a diagnostic.

The compounds of the invention may be administered enterally or parenterally. Mixed with pharmaceutically suitable auxiliaries, e.g. as described in the standard reference, Gennaro et al., Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences. The compounds may be compressed into solid dosage units, such as pills, tablets, or be processed into capsules or suppositories. By means of pharmaceutically suitable liquids the compounds can also be applied in the form of a solution, suspension, emulsion, e.g. for use as an injection preparation or eye drops, or as a spray, e.g. for use as a nasal spray.

For making dosage units, e.g. tablets, the use of conventional additives such as fillers, colorants, polymeric binders and the like is contemplated. In general any pharmaceutically acceptable additive which does not interfere with the function of the active compounds can be used. Suitable carriers with which the compositions can be administered include lactose, starch, cellulose derivatives and the like, or mixtures thereof, used in suitable amounts.

The compounds of the invention can be administered orally, topically, intravenously, etc. By means of pharmaceutically suitable liquids the compounds can be applied in the form of a solution, suspension, or emulsion. The compounds can also be formulated in a patch, ointment or can be enclosed in a device for local administration to the skin.

The present invention reflects the role of endogenous glucocorticoids (GCs) in withdrawal from substances of abuse and addictive substances (hereafter referred to as “drug” or “drugs”, inclusive of, but not restricted to, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, cocaine (including crack cocaine), cannabis, amphetamines (including crystal methamphetamine), opiates and opiate analogues (including heroine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, methadone), dextromethorphan, benzodiazepines, ecstacy (MDMA), GHB, barbiturates, khat, kratom, PCP, LSD, ketamine, peyote, mescaline, psilocybin, rohypnol, Salvia divinorum, antidepressants, anti-anxiety 5 medications, sleep aids, allergy medications.

Increased circulating levels of GCs may relate to direct elevating effects of substances of abuse or from stress-associated GC elevations in response to neuropsychiatric and physical stresses of withdrawal.

The present invention relates to co-administration of a selective GC receptor antagonist, such as ORG34517 administered during the active intoxication phase of drug use, prior to drug use, or after cessation of drug use to reduce neuropsychiatric and physical symptoms of withdrawal, such as anxiety, hallucinations, dysphoria, depression, delirium tremens, chills, shakes, tremors, akathisia, restlessness, restless leg syndrome, musculoskeletal aches and pains, cramping, chills, weakness.

The present invention relates to single dose of GC receptor antagonist or sustained administration of GC receptor antagonist for hours, days, weeks, or months for prevention of and/or treatment of symptoms of drug withdrawal.

The present invention may be considered for co-administration with anti-anxiety drugs and anti-depressant drugs to better control sporadic episodes, flare-ups of anxiety or depression. Regular co-administration of the present invention with anti-anxiety and/or anti-depressant drugs.

The present invention may also be used in concert with a diagnostic (for example, a diagnostic test using saliva, blood, plasma, serum, urine or tears as substrate) for the specific constituent i.e.: alcohol, cocaine, caffeine, nicotine, etc. to monitor the specific level of said constituent in the individual to prevent from occurrences of anxiety and withdrawals.

The present invention may also be used in concert with a diagnostic (for example, a diagnostic test using saliva, blood, plasma, serum, urine or tears as substrate) for cortisol to determine which individuals have elevated circulating cortisol or dysregulated cortisol and may therefore be most likely to benefit from administration of GC receptor antagonist.

The present invention may be packaged for use alone, as a single dose (by prescription or over the counter), as a limited number of timed doses in packaging designed to specifically guide self-administration, and in combination with drug or cortisol diagnostic test (using saliva, blood, plasma, serum, urine or tears as substrate) for self-administration or administration by health care professional or technician.

Regenerative Therapy

The activities of GR agonists and their alteration of cellular functions are variable, depending on complex intracellular molecular signaling that are cell and tissue specific. Amongst the cells that have glucocorticoid receptors are stem and progenitor cells of all tissues and organs of the body.

Thus, binding of such molecules to normative, “in-tissue” stem cells and the progeny of these stem cells, so-called “transit amplifying” progenitor cells, results in variable, cell and tissue specific effects, inhibitory or enhancing of stem and progenitor cell functions, including activation, proliferation, migration and differentiation all of which are dependent on the tissue/organ in question.

GR antagonists, such as, for example, ORG34517, will thus block the effects of GR-agonists in tissue specific fashion, enhancing stem/progenitor cell functioning in some, inhibiting it in others. GR-antagonists will have beneficial effects in specific clinical settings where regenerative medicine approaches to disease and wound healing may be of use, including:

-   -   enhanced post-transplant functioning of autologous stem cell         transplants (dependent on tissue of origin and/or target         tissue).     -   Attenuation of the peri-surgical effects of catabolic stress         hormones related to surgical or other physical traumas (e.g.         combat wounds).

Systemic GR blockade will be inappropriate, but direct application of ORG34517 to site of injury/wounding, either topically (for example, to prevent wound dehiscence) or by direct injection or intravascular infusion (for visceral organ injuries) will be beneficial.

The present invention relates to the use of cortisol blockers (glucocorticoid receptor [GR] antagonists) to treat stem cells for regenerative therapy.

Stem Cells

The term “stem cell” generally refers to a cell that on division faces two developmental options: the daughter cells can be identical to the original cell (self-renewal) or they may be the progenitors of more specialized cell types (differentiation). The stem cell is therefore capable of adopting one or other pathway (a further pathway exists in which one of each cell type can be formed). Stem cells are therefore cells which are not terminally differentiated and are able to produce cells of other types.

Embryonic Stem (ESCs) cells may be isolated from the inner cell mass (ICM) of the blastocyst, which is the stage of embryonic development when implantation occurs.

Pluripotent stem cells are true stem cells, with the potential to make any differentiated cell in the body. However, they cannot contribute to making the extraembryonic membranes which are derived from the trophoblast. Several types of pluripotent stem cells have been found. Multipotent stem cells are true stem cells but can only differentiate into a limited number of types. For example, the bone marrow contains multipotent stem cells that give rise to all the cells of the blood but not to other types of cells. Multipotent stem cells are found in adult animals. It is thought that every organ in the body contains them where they can replace dead or damaged cells.

Methods of characterizing stem cells are known in the art, and include the use of standard assay methods such as clonal assay, flow cytometry, long-term culture and molecular biological techniques e.g. PCR, RT-PCR and Southern blotting.

Adult stem cells comprise a wide variety of types including neuronal, skin and the blood forming stem cells which are the active component in bone marrow transplantation.

These latter stem cell types are also the principal feature of umbilical cord-derived stem cells. Adult stem cells can mature both in the laboratory and in the body into functional, more specialised cell types although the exact number of cell types is limited by the type of stem cell chosen.

Induced pluripotent stem cells, commonly abbreviated as iPS cells or iPSCs, are a type of pluripotent stem cell artificially derived from a non-pluripotent cell, typically an adult somatic cell, by inserting certain genes. iPS cells are reviewed and discussed in Takahashi, K. & Yamanaka (2006), Yamanaka S, et. al. (2007), Wemig M, et. al. (2007), Maherali N, et. al. (2007), Yu J, et al. (2007) and Takahashi et al., (2007), all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

iPS cells are typically derived by transfection of certain stem cell-associated genes into non-pluripotent cells, such as adult fibroblasts. Transfection is typically achieved through viral vectors, for example through retroviral reprogramming. Transfected genes include the master transcriptional regulators Oct-3/4 (Pouf51) and Sox2, although it is suggested that other genes enhance the efficiency of induction. After 3-4 weeks, small numbers of transfected cells begin to become morphologically and biochemically similar to pluripotent stem cells, and are typically isolated through morphological selection, doubling time, or through a reporter gene and antibiotic infection.

IPSCs may be induced from somatic cells such as fibroblasts by transfection with one or more transcription factors. In some cases, cells are transformed with Oct3/4, Sox2, c-Myc and Klf4. The cells may be additionally transfected with other genes, including transcription factors and/or marker genes. The genes may be introduced using a transposon system such as the Cre/IoxP recombination system, or using non-integrating vectors in order to produce iPSCs free of exogenous reprogramming genes. Transfection may be achieved using viral vectors, such as a retrovirus. The virus may be an amphotropic virus. Once the cells have been transfected, they may be grown on feeder cells before transfer to an ESC culture medium.

iPS cells may be derived from any suitable cell type, including lung, foreskin fibroblasts, skin fibroblasts, keratinocytes, blood progenitor cells, bone marrow cells, hepatocytes, gastric epithelial cells, pancreatic cells, neural stem cells, B lymphocytes, ES derived somatic cells and embryonic fibroblasts. In some cases, the cells are not human dermal fibroblasts. The IPSCs may exhibit similar patterns of gene expression and phenotype to ESCs.

Sources of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Several methods have now been provided for the isolation of pluripotent stem cells that do not lead to the destruction of an embryo, e.g. by transforming (inducing) adult somatic cells or germ cells. These methods include:

1. Reprogramming by nuclear transfer. This technique involves the transfer of a nucleus from a somatic cell into an oocyte or zygote. In some situations this may lead to the creation of an animal-human hybrid cell. For example, cells may be created by the fusion of a human somatic cell with an animal oocyte or zygote or fusion of a human oocyte or zygote with an animal somatic cell. 2. Reprogramming by fusion with embryonic stem cells. This technique involves the fusion of a somatic cell with an embryonic stem cell. This technique may also lead to the creation of animal-human hybrid cells, as in 1 above. 3. Spontaneous re-programming by culture. This technique involves the generation of pluripotent cells from non-pluripotent cells after long term culture. For example, pluripotent embryonic germ (EG) cells have been generated by long-term culture of primordial germ cells (PGC) (Matsui et al., Derivation of pluripotential embryonic stem cells from murine primordial germ cells in culture. Cell 70, 841-847, 1992, incorporated herein by reference). The development of pluripotent stem cells after prolonged culture of bone marrow-derived cells has also been reported (Jiang et al., Pluripotency of mesenchymal stem cells derived from adult marrow. Nature 418, 41-49, 2002, incorporated herein by reference). They designated these cells multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPCs). Shinohara et al also demonstrated that pluripotent stem cells can be generated during the course of culture of germline stem (GS) cells from neonate mouse testes, which they designated multipotent germline stem (mGS) cells (Kanatsu-Shinohara et al., Generation of pluripotent stem cells from neonatal mouse testis. Cell 119, 1001-1012, 2004). 4. Reprogramming by defined factors. For example the generation of iPS cells by the retrovirus-mediated introduction of transcription factors (such as Oct-3/4, Sox2, c-Myc, and KLF4) into mouse embryonic or adult fibroblasts, e.g. as described above. Kaji et al (Virus-free induction of pluripotency and subsequent excision of reprogramming factors. Nature. Online publication 1 Mar. 2009) also describe the non-viral transfection of a single multiprotein expression vector, which comprises the coding sequences of c-Myc, Klf4, Oct4 and Sox2 linked with 2A peptides, that can reprogram both mouse and human fibroblasts. iPS cells produced with this non-viral vector show robust expression of pluripotency markers, indicating a reprogrammed state confirmed functionally by in vitro differentiation assays and formation of adult chimaeric mice. They succeeded in establishing reprogrammed human cell lines from embryonic fibroblasts with robust expression of pluripotency markers.

Methods 1-4 are described and discussed by Shinya Yamanaka in Strategies and New Developments in the Generation of Patient-Specific Pluripotent Stem Cells (Cell Stem Cell 1, July 2007 Elsevier Inc), incorporated herein by reference.

5. Derivation of hESC lines from single blastomeres or biopsied blastomeres. See Klimanskaya I, Chung Y, Becker S, Lu S J, Lanza R. Human embryonic stem cell lines derived from single blastomeres. Nature 2006; 444:512, Lei et al Xeno-free derivation and culture of human embryonic stem cells: current status, problems and challenges. Cell Research (2007) 17:682-688, Chung Y, Klimanskaya I, Becker S, et al. Embryonic and extraembryonic stem cell lines derived from single mouse blastomeres. Nature. 2006; 439:216-219. Klimanskaya I, Chung Y, Becker S, et al. Human embryonic stem cell lines derived from single blastomeres. Nature. 2006; 444:481-485. Chung Y, Klimanskaya I, Becker S, et al. Human embryonic stem cell lines generated without embryo destruction. Cell Stem Cell. 2008; 2:113-117 and Dusko Ilic et al (Derivation of human tri embryonic stem cell lines from biopsied blastomeres on human feeders with a minimal exposure to xenomaterials. Stem Cells And Development—paper in pre-publication), all incorporated herein by reference. 6. hESC lines obtained from arrested embryos which stopped cleavage and failed to develop to morula and blastocysts in vitro. See Zhang X, Stojkovic P, Przyborski S, et al. Derivation of human embryonic stem cells from developing and arrested embryos. Stem Cells 2006; 24:2669-2676 and Lei et al Xeno-free derivation and culture of human embryonic stem cells: current status, problems and challenges. Cell Research (2007) 17:682-688, both incorporated herein by reference. 7. Parthogenesis (or Parthenogenesis). This technique involves chemical or electrical stimulation of an unfertilised egg so as to cause it to develop into a blastomere from which embryonic stem cells may be derived. For example, see Lin et al. Multilineage potential of homozygous stem cells derived from metaphase II oocytes. Stem Cells. 2003; 21(2):152-61 who employed the chemical activation of nonfertilized metaphase II oocytes to produce stem cells. 8. Stem cells of fetal origin. These cells lie between embryonic and adult stem cells in terms of potentiality and may be used to derive pluripotent or multipotent cells. Human umbilical-cord-derived fetal mesenchymal stem cells (UC fMSCs) expressing markers of pluripotency (including Nanog, Oct-4, Sox-2, Rex-1, SSEA-3, SSEA-4, Tra-1-60, and Tra-1-81, minimal evidence of senescence as shown by .beta.-galactosidase staining, and the consistent expression of telomerase activity) have been successfully derived by Chris H. Jo et al (Fetal mesenchymal stem cells derived from human umbilical cord sustain primitive characteristics during extensive expansion. Cell Tissue Res (2008) 334:423-433, incorporated herein by reference). Winston Costa Pereira et al (Reproducible methodology for the isolation of mesenchymal stem cells from human umbilical cord and its potential for cardiomyocyte generation J Tissue Eng Regen Med 2008; 2: 394-399, incorporated herein by reference) isolated a pure population of mesenchymal stem cells from Wharton's jelly of the human umbilical cord. Mesenchymal stem cells derived from Wharton's jelly are also reviewed in Troyer & Weiss (Concise Review: Wharton's Jelly-Derived Cells Are a primitive Stromal Cell Population. Stem Cells 2008:26:591-599) Kim et al (Ex vivo characteristics of human amniotic membrane-derived stem cells. Cloning Stem Cells 2007 Winter; 9(4):581-94, incorporated herein by reference) succeeded in isolating human amniotic membrane-derived mesenchymal cells from human amniotic membranes. Umbilical cord is a tissue that is normally discarded and stem cells derived from this tissue have tended not to attract moral or ethical objection.

Induced pluripotent stem cells have the advantage that they can be obtained by a method that does not cause the destruction of an embryo, more particularly by a method that does not cause the destruction of a human or mammalian embryo. As such, aspects of the invention may be performed or put into practice by using cells that have not been prepared exclusively by a method which necessarily involves the destruction of human or animal embryos from which those cells may be derived. This optional limitation is specifically intended to take account of Decision G0002/06 of 25 Nov. 2008 of the Enlarged Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Mesenchymal stem cells are known as being multipotent and exhibit the potential for differentiation into different cells/tissue lineages, including cartilage, bone, adipose tissue, tendon, and ligament. These multipotent mesenchymal progenitor cells are denoted as stromal or mesenchymal stem cells. Bone marrow contains two main cell types: hematopoietic cells and stromal cells. The stem cells for non hematopoietic tissues are referred as mesenchymal cells because of their ability to differentiate as mesenchymal or stromal cells.

Accordingly, in this specification mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) refers to multipotent stem cells capable of differentiation into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, myocytes, adipocytes and endothelium. In this specification MSCs particularly refers to multipotent stem cells capable of differentiation into osteoblasts as part of the process of formation of bone.

Mesenchymal cells are easily obtainable from bone marrow by minimally invasive techniques and can be expanded in culture and permitted to differentiate into the desired lineage. Differentiation can be induced by the application of specific growth factors. The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) superfamily member proteins such as the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are important factors of chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.

Suitable MSCs may be obtained or derived from bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) collected from aspirates of bone marrow (e.g. Wexler et al. Adult bone marrow is a rich source of human mesenchymal ‘stem’ cells but umbilical cord and mobilized adult blood are not. HAEMOPOIESIS AND LEUCOCYTES British Journal of Haematology 121(2):368-374, April 2003.) or Wharton's Jelly of the umbilical cord (e.g. Ta et al. Long-term Expansion and Pluripotent Marker Array Analysis of Wharton's Jelly-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Stem Cells Dev. 2009 Jul. 20 (Epub)).

Differentiation of MSCs to the osteogenic lineage may be achieved by culture in osteogenic medium. For example, MSCs are seeded at 3,000/cm.sup.2 in maintenance medium (DMEM, 1 g/l glucose, 10% FCS, 2 mM L-glutamine, 50 U/ml penicillin and 50 U/ml streptomycin) in 6-well, 12-well and chamber slides for 24 h before changing to osteogenic media (maintenance medium, 10 nM dexamethasone, 25 .mu.g/ml ascorbic acid and 10 mM beta-glycerophosphate). Cells are then maintained for up to 28 days with a media change every 3-4 days. After 14 days cells in the chamber slides may be fixed in 4% PFA and stored at 4.degree. C. in PBS for immunohistochemistry. After 14 and 28 days the cells are stained with alizarin red S for calcium, and von Kossa for calcium phosphate. RNA may also be extracted for analysis using the Nucleospin RNA extraction kit according to the manufacturer's instructions (Macherey Nagel) and protein samples may be extracted for analysis.

Differentiation of MSCs to the adipogenic lineage may be achieved by culture in adipogenic medium. For example, MSCs are seeded at 18,000/cm.sup.2 in maintenance medium and incubated as above for 2 days. Media is removed and cells are washed once in PBS before the addition of adipogenic maintenance media (DMEM, 4.5 g/l glucose, 10% FCS, L-glutamine and penicillin and streptomycin) or adipogenic media (adipogenic maintenance media with 10 .mu.g/ml insulin, 115 microg/ml methyl-isobutylxanthine, 1 .mu.M dexamethasone and 20 .mu.M indomethazine). Cells are then maintained for up to 28 days with a media change every 3-4 days. After 14 and 28 days the cells may be stained with oil-red-0 to stain the lipid droplets. RNA and protein may also be extracted for analysis.

Differentiation of MSCs to the chondrogenic lineage may be achieved by culture in chrondrogenic medium. For example, MSCs are counted and resuspended at 5.times.10.sup.5 cells/ml in chondrogenic media (DMEM with Cambrex chondrogenic single aliquots) with or without 10 ng/ml TGF.quadrature.3 (Cambrex) and then 500 ml aliquots were put into 15 ml tubes before centrifugation at 150×g at room temperature for 10 min and incubated at 37° C. for 2 days. After two days the tubes will contain loose round pellets. Pellets are maintained for 21 days with a media change every 3-4 days before RNA is isolated using Trizol (Invitrogen) or cell pellets are fixed in 4% PFA and embedded for cryosectioning Serial sections are made before slides are stored at −80° C. for immunohistochemistry.

When osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation are investigated under confluent conditions, cells may be seeded at 30,000/cm² and allowed to reach confluence before switching to the relevant differentiation media and cultured as above.

Culture of Stem Cells

Any suitable method of culturing stem cells may be used, and any suitable container may be used to propagate stem cells. Suitable containers include those described in US Patent Publication US2007/0264713 (Terstegge).

Containers may include bioreactors and spinners, for example. A “bioreactor” is a container suitable for the cultivation of eukaryotic cells, for example animal cells or mammalian cells, such as in a large scale. A typical cultivation volume of a regulated bioreactor is between 20 ml and 500 ml.

The bioreactor may comprise a regulated bioreactor, in which one or more conditions may be controlled or monitored, for example, oxygen partial pressure. Devices for measuring and regulating these conditions are known in the art. For example, oxygen electrodes may be used for oxygen partial pressure. The oxygen partial pressure can be regulated via the amount and the composition of the selected gas mixture (e.g., air or a mixture of air and/or oxygen and/or nitrogen and/or carbon dioxide). Suitable devices for measuring and regulating the oxygen partial pressure are described by Bailey, J E. (Bailey, J E., Biochemical Engineering Fundamentals, second edition, McGraw-Hill, Inc. ISBN 0-07-003212-2 Higher Education, (1986)) or Jackson A T. Jackson A T., Verfahrenstechnik in der Biotechnologie, Springer, ISBN 3540561900 (1993)).

Other suitable containers include spinners. Spinners are regulated or unregulated bioreactors, which can be agitated using various agitator mechanisms, such as glass ball agitators, impeller agitators, and other suitable agitators. The cultivation volume of a spinner is typically between 20 ml and 500 ml. Roller bottles are round cell culture flasks made of plastic or glass having a culture area of between 400 and 2000 cm.sup.2. The cells are cultivated along the entire inner surface of these flasks; the cells are coated with culture medium accomplished by a “rolling” motion, i.e. rotating the bottles about their own individual axis.

Alternatively, culture may be static, i.e. where active agitation of the culture/culture media is not employed. By reducing agitation of the culture, aggregates of cells may be allowed to form. Whilst some agitation may be employed to encourage distribution and flow of the culture media over the cultured cells this may be applied so as not to substantially disrupt aggregate formation. For example, a low rpm agitation, e.g. less than 30 rpm or less than 20 rpm, may be employed.

Propagation with Passage

Methods of cell culture may comprise passaging, or splitting during culture. The methods may involve continuous or continual passage.

Cells in culture may be dissociated from the substrate or flask, and “split”, subcultured or passaged, by dilution into tissue culture medium and replating/re-cultuting.

The term “passage” may generally refer to the process of taking an aliquot of a cell culture, dissociating the cells completely or partially, diluting and inoculating into medium. The passaging may be repeated one or more times. The aliquot may comprise the whole or a portion of the cell culture. The cells of the aliquot may be completely, partially or not confluent. The passaging may comprise at least some of the following sequence of steps: aspiration, rinsing, trypsinization, incubation, dislodging, quenching, re-seeding and aliquoting. The protocol published by the Hedrick Lab, UC San Diego may be used.

The cells may be dissociated by any suitable means, such as mechanical or enzymatic means known in the art. The cells may be broken up by mechanical dissociation, for example using a cell scraper or pipette. The cells may be dissociated by sieving through a suitable sieve size, such as through 100 micron or 500 micron sieves. The cells may be split by enzymatic dissociation, for example by treatment with collagenase or trypLE harvested. The dissociation may be complete or partial.

The dilution may be of any suitable dilution. The cells in the cell culture may be split at any suitable ratio. For example, the cells may be split at a ratio of 1:2 or more, 1:3 or more, 1:4 or more or 1:5 or more. Thus, stem cells may be passaged for 1 passage or more. For example, stem cells may be passaged for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 passages or more. Passages may be expressed as generations of cell growth. Stem cells may be propagated for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 generations or more. Stem cells may be propagated for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 cell doublings or more

Co-Culture and Feeders

Methods may comprise culturing stem cells in the presence or absence of co-culture. The term “co-culture” refers to a mixture of two or more different kinds of cells that are grown together. The two or more different kinds of cells may be grown on the same surfaces, such as particles or cell container surfaces, or on different surfaces. The different kinds of cells may be grown on different particles.

Feeder cells may mean cells which are used for or required for cultivation of cells of a different type. In the context of stem cell culture, feeder cells have the function of securing the survival, proliferation, and maintenance of cell pluripotency or multipotency. Cell pluripotency/multipotency may be ensured by directly co-cultivating the feeder cells. For example, the inner surface of the container such as a culture dish may be coated with a feeder cell layer. The feeder cells release nutrients into the culture medium. Alternatively, or in addition, the feeder cells may be cultured in a medium to condition it. The conditioned medium may be used to culture the stem cells. Thus, arrangements in which feeder cells are absent or not required are also possible.

The invention provides the treatment of stem cells with GR antagonist to yield GR antagonist treated stem cells.

Osteoporosis and Bone Related Injuries

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are central to the treatment of inflammatory and immune disorders. These steroids, however, profoundly impact the skeleton, particularly when administered for prolonged periods. In fact, high-dose GC therapy is almost universally associated with bone loss, causing one of the most crippling forms of osteoporosis. Despite the frequency and severity of GC-induced osteoporosis, its treatment is less than satisfactory, suggesting that its pathogenesis is incompletely understood. The present invention provides a method and treatment for these disorders as well as the rapid site-specific bone growth by a combination cortisol blockers i.e. ORG34517 and the optional use of bone marrow irrigation, bone compatible cement and PTH therapy.

The present invention relates to the use of GR antagonists or GR antagonist treated stem cells for the prevention or treatment of stress induced osteoporosis and the rapid healing of bone related injuries

The present invention is concerned with the therapeutic use (human and veterinary) of GR antagonists or GR antagonist treated stem cells to treat bone fracture. GR antagonists and GR antagonist treated stem cells are reported here to augment wound healing in bone. GR antagonists stimulate bone regeneration following injury and contribute to improved wound healing in bone. GR antagonists and GR antagonist treated stem cells provide improvements in the speed of bone fracture repair enabling a reduction in the recovery time from injury.

Bone fracture is a medical condition. In this application “fracture” includes damage or injury to bone in which a bone is cracked, broken or chipped. A break refers to discontinuity in the bone. A fracture may be caused by physical impact, or mechanical stress or by medical conditions such as osteoporosis or osteoarthritis.

Orthopedic classification of fractures includes closed or open and simple or multi-fragmentary fractures. In closed fractures the skin remains intact, whilst in an open fracture the bone may be exposed through the wound site, which brings a higher risk of infection. Simple fractures occur along a single line, tending to divide the bone in two. Multi-fragmentary fractures spilt the bone into multiple pieces.

Other fracture types include, compression fracture, compacted fracture, spiral fracture, complete and incomplete fractures, transverse, linear and oblique fractures and comminuted fractures.

In most subjects bone healing (fracture union) occurs naturally and is initiated following injury. Bleeding normally leads to clotting and attraction of white blood cells and fibroblasts, followed by production of collagen fibres. This is followed by bone matrix (calcium hydroxyapatite) deposition (mineralisation) transforming the collagen matrix into bone. Immature re-generated bone is typically weaker than mature bone and over time the immature bone undergoes a process of remodelling to produce mature “lamellar” bone. The complete bone healing process takes considerable time, typically many months.

Bones in which fractures occur and which may benefit from treatment using GR antagonists include all bone types, particularly all mammalian bones including, but not limited to, long bones (e.g. femur, humerus, phalanges), short bones (e.g. carpals, tarsals), flat bones (e.g. cranium, ribs, scapula, sternum, pelvic girdle), irregular bones (e.g. vertebrae), sesamoid bones (e.g. patella).

Bone fracture also includes pathological porosity, such as that exhibited by subjects with osteoporosis.

GR antagonists and GR antagonist treated stem cells and pharmaceutical compositions and medicaments comprising GR antagonists and GR antagonist treated stem cells are provided for use in a method of treatment of bone fracture in a mammalian subject.

Treatment may comprise wound healing in bone. The treatment may involve repair, regeneration and growth of bone. GR antagonists and GR antagonist treated stem cells facilitate fracture repair by facilitating new bone growth. GR antagonists act to improve the speed of fracture repair enabling bone healing to occur faster leading to improved recovery time from injury. Treatment may lead to improved bone strength.

Treatment may also include treatment of osteoporosis or osteoarthritis.

Administration of GR antagonists and GR antagonist treated stem cells may for example be to the tissue surrounding the fracture. This may include administration directly to bone tissue in which the fracture has occurred. Administration may be to connective tissue surrounding the bone or fracture or to vasculature (e.g. blood vessels) near to and supplying the bone. Administration may be directly to the site of injury and may be to a callus formed by initial healing of the wound.

Medicaments and pharmaceutical compositions according to the present invention may be formulated for administration by a number of routes. GR antagonists and GR antagonist treated stem cells may be formulated in fluid or liquid form for injection, or as part of a gel suitable for application to bone or other tissue surrounding the fracture.

Administration is preferably in a “therapeutically effective amount”, this being sufficient to improve healing of the bone fracture compared to a corresponding untreated fracture or to a fracture treated with GR antagonist treated stem cells obtained from culture in control conditions. The actual amount administered, and rate and time-course of administration, will depend on the nature and severity of the fracture. Prescription of treatment, e.g. decisions on dosage etc, is within the responsibility of general practitioners and other medical doctors, and will typically take account of the nature of the fracture, the condition of the individual patient, the site of delivery, the method of administration and other factors known to practitioners. Single or multiple administrations of GR antagonists or GR antagonist treated stem cell doses may be administered in accordance with the guidance of the prescribing medical practitioner. Examples of the techniques and protocols mentioned above can be found in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 20th Edition, 2000, pub. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.

GR antagonists or GR antagonist treated stem cells may be used to treat bone fracture alongside other treatments, such as administration of pain relieving or anti-inflammatory medicaments, immobilisation and setting of the bone, e.g. immobilising the injured limb in a plaster cast, surgical intervention, e.g. to re-set a bone or move a bone to correct displacement, angulation or dislocation. If surgery is required GR antagonists or GR antagonist treated stem cells may be administered directly to (e.g. applied to) the fracture during the surgical procedure.

Pharmaceutical compositions and medicaments of the invention may take the form of a biomaterial that is coated and/or impregnated with GR antagonists or GR antagonist treated stem cells. An implant or prosthesis may be formed from the biomaterial. Such implants or prostheses may be surgically implanted to assist in bone growth, regeneration, restructuring and/or re-modelling.

GR antagonists or GR antagonist treated stem cells may be applied to implants or prostheses to accelerate new bone formation at a desired location. The biomaterial may be coated or impregnated with GR antagonists or GR antagonist treated stem cells. Impregnation may comprise contacting the GR antagonists with the biomaterial such that they are allowed to be adsorbed and/or absorbed onto and/or into the biomaterial. Coating may comprise adsorbing the GR antagonists or GR antagonist treated stem cells onto the surface of the biomaterial. Coating or impregnation of the biomaterial may involve seeding GR antagonists or GR antagonist treated stem cells onto or into the biomaterial.

The biomaterial should allow the coated or impregnated GR antagonists or GR antagonist treated stem cells to be released from the biomaterial when administered to or implanted in the subject. Biomaterial release kinetics may be altered by altering the structure, e.g. porosity, of the biomaterial.

In addition to coating or impregnating a biomaterial with GR antagonists or GR antagonist treated stem cells, one or more biologically active molecules may be impregnated or coated on the biomaterial. For example, at least one chosen from the group consisting of: BMP-2, BMP-4, OP-1, FGF-1, FGF-2, TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, TGF-beta3; VEGF; collagen; laminin: fibronectin; vitronectin. In addition or alternatively to the above bioactive molecules, one or more bisphosphonates may be impregnated or coated onto the biomaterial along with GR antagonists. Examples of useful bisphosphonates may include at least one chosen from the group consisting of: etidronate; clodronate; alendronate; pamidronate; risedronate; zoledronate. Optionally, GR antagonists or GR antagonist treated stem cells is excluded from being impregnated or coated on the biomaterial.

Biomaterials coated or impregnated with GR antagonists or GR antagonist treated stem cells may be useful in both medical and veterinary purposes. It will be appreciated that the present invention may improve the quality of life of a patient or potentially extend the life of an animal, for example a valuable race horse for use in breeding.

The biomaterial provides a scaffold or matrix support. The biomaterial may be suitable for implantation in tissue, or may be suitable for administration (e.g. as microcapsules in solution).

The implant or prosthesis should be biocompatible, e.g. non-toxic and of low immunogenicity (most preferably non-immunogenic). The biomaterial may be biodegradable such that the biomaterial degrades as wound healing occurs, ultimately leaving only the regenerated bone in situ in the subject. Alternatively a non-biodegradable biomaterial may be used, e.g. to guide bone regeneration over a large discontinuity and/or to act as a structural support during bone healing, with surgical removal of the biomaterial being an optional requirement after successful wound healing.

Biomaterials may be soft and/or flexible, e.g. hydrogels, fibrin web or mesh, or collagen sponges. A “hydrogel” is a substance fanned when an organic polymer, which can be natural or synthetic, is set or solidified to create a three-dimensional open-lattice structure that entraps molecules of water or other solutions to form a gel. Solidification can occur by aggregation, coagulation, hydrophobic interactions or cross-linking.

Alternatively biomaterials may be relatively rigid structures, e.g. formed from solid materials such as plastics or biologically inert metals such as titanium.

The biomaterial may have a porous matrix structure which may be provided by a cross-linked polymer. The matrix is preferably permeable to nutrients and growth factors required for bone growth.

Matrix structures may be formed by crosslinking fibres, e.g. fibrin or collagen, or of liquid films of sodium alginate, chitosan, or other polysaccharides with suitable crosslinkers, e.g. calcium salts, polyacrylic acid, heparin. Alternatively scaffolds may be formed as a gel, fabricated by collagen or alginates, crosslinked using well established methods known to those skilled in the art.

Suitable polymer materials for matrix formation include, but are not limited by, biodegradable/bioresorbable polymers which may be chosen from the group of agarose, collagen, fibrin, chitosan, polycaprolactone, poly(DL-lactide-co-caprolactone), poly(L-lactide-co-caprolactone-co-glycolide), polyglycolide, polylactide, polyhydroxyalcanoates, co-polymers thereof, or non-biodegradable polymers which may be chosen from the group of: cellulose acetate; cellulose butyrate, alginate, polysulfone, polyurethane, polyacrylonitrile, sulfonated polysulfone, polyamide, polyacrylonitrile, polymethylmethacrylate, co-polymers thereof. Collagen is a promising material for matrix construction owing to its biocompatibility and favourable property of supporting cell attachment and function (U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,087; Tanaka, S.; Takigawa, T.; Ichihara, S. & Nakamura, T. Mechanical properties of the bioabsorbable polyglycolic acid-collagen nerve guide tube Polymer Engineering & Science 2006, 46, 1461-1467). Clinically acceptable collagen sponges are one example of a matrix and are well known in the art (e.g. from Integra Life Sciences).

Fibrin scaffolds (e.g. fibrin glue) provide an alternative matrix material. Fibrin glue enjoys widespread clinical application as a wound sealant, a reservoir to deliver growth factors and as an aid in the placement and securing of biological implants (Rajesh Vasita, Dhirendra S Katti. Growth factor delivery systems for tissue engineering: a materials perspective. Expert Reviews in Medical Devices. 2006; 3(1): 29-47; Wong C, Inman E, Spaethe R, Helgerson S. Thromb. Haemost. 2003 89(3): 573-582; Pandit A S, Wilson D J, Feldman D S. Fibrin scaffold as an effective vehicle for the delivery of acidic growth factor (FGF-1). J. Biomaterials Applications. 2000; 14(3); 229-242; DeBlois Cote M F. Doillon C J. Heparin-fibroblast growth factor fibrin complex: in vitro and in vivo applications to collagen based materials. Biomaterials. 1994; 15(9): 665-672.).

Luong-Van et al (In vitro biocompatibility and bioactivity of microencapsulated heparan sulphate Biomaterials 28 (2007) 2127-2136), incorporated herein by reference, describes prolonged localised delivery of HS from polycaprolactone microcapsules. A further example of a biomaterial is a polymer that incorporates hydroxyapatite or hyaluronic acid.

The biomaterial can be supplemented with additional cells. For example, one can “seed” the biomaterial (or co-synthesise it) with fibroblast derived feeder cells, which may be useful for supporting growth and maintenance of the GR antagonists.

The subject to be treated may be any animal or human. The subject is preferably mammalian. In some embodiments the subject is a human. In other embodiments the subject is an animal, more preferably a non-human mammal. The non-human mammal may be a domestic pet, or animal kept for commercial purposes, e.g. a race horse, or farming livestock such as pigs, sheep or cattle. As such the invention may have veterinary applications. Non-human mammals include rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, mice or other rodents (including any animal in the order Rodentia), cats, dogs, pigs, sheep, goats, cattle (including cows or any animal in the order Bos), horse (including any animal in the order Equidae), donkey, and non-human primates. The subject may be male or female. The subject may be a patient.

Wound Healing and Transplants

While elevated cortisol plays important roles in physiologic homeostasis in the face of extreme physical and emotional stress, it can have negative effects on wound healing, by inhibiting cells important to wound repair (including stem cells) through binding to their glucocorticoid receptors (GR).

Application of a GR antagonist such as Org34517 can improve wound healing in such circumstances. However, blockade of systemic cortisol binding to GR must be avoided. Thus, the present inventions provides for the local application of ORG34517 to wounds (by topical application in cutaneous wounds or by direct injection or local vascular infusion) will help in wound repair in the face of acute physical trauma (e.g. war wounds) while at the same time preserving the systemic homeostasis to which cortisol contributes.

Application of the same to stem cell therapies is also provided by pre-treatment of transplantable stem cells with ORG34517.

In addition, the invention provides for pre-treatment of an implantable organ prior to implantation in the recipient. The invention provides for treatment of an implantable organ during implantation in the recipient.

Perfusion Systems

A perfusion system for cells may be used to expose a tissue or organ to a GR antagonist in the form of a liquid or a semi-solid. Perfusion refers to continuous flow of a solution through or over a population of cells. It implies the retention of the cells within the culture unit as opposed to continuous-flow culture, which washes the cells out with the withdrawn media (e.g., chemostat). Perfusion allows for better control of the culture environment (pH, pO₂, nutrient levels, GR antagonist levels, etc.) and is a means of significantly increasing the utilization of the surface area within a culture for cell attachment.

The technique of perfusion was developed to mimic the cells milieu in vivo where cells are continuously supplied with blood, lymph, or other body fluids. Without perfusion of a physiological nutrient solution, cells in culture go through alternating phases of being fed and starved, thus limiting full expression of their growth and metabolic potential. In the context of the present invention, a perfusion system may also be used to perfuse cells with an GR antagonist to induce stasis.

Those of skill in the art are familiar with perfusion systems, and there are a number of perfusion systems available commercially. Any of these perfusion systems may be employed in the present invention. One example of a perfusion system is a perfused packed-bed reactor using a bed matrix of a non-woven fabric (CelliGen®, New Brunswick Scientific, Edison, N.J.; Wang et al., 1992; Wang et al., 1993; Wang et al., 1994). Briefly described, this reactor comprises an improved reactor for culturing of both anchorage- and non-anchorage-dependent cells. The reactor is designed as a packed bed with a means to provide internal recirculation. Preferably, a fiber matrix carrier is placed in a basket within the reactor vessel. A top and bottom portion of the basket has holes, allowing the medium to flow through the basket. A specially designed impeller provides recirculation of the medium through the space occupied by the fiber matrix for assuring a uniform supply of nutrient and the removal of wastes. This simultaneously assures that a negligible amount of the total cell mass is suspended in the medium. The combination of the basket and the recirculation also provides a bubble-free flow of oxygenated medium through the fiber matrix. The fiber matrix is a non-woven fabric having a “pore” diameter of from 10 micrometer to 100 micrometer, providing for a high internal volume with pore volumes corresponding to 1 to 20 times the volumes of individual cells.

The perfused packed-bed reactor offers several advantages. With a fiber matrix carrier, the cells are protected against mechanical stress from agitation and foaming. The free medium flow through the basket provides the cells with optimum regulated levels of oxygen, pH, and nutrients. Products can be continuously removed from the culture and the harvested products are free of cells and can be produced in low-protein medium, which facilitates subsequent purification steps. This technology is explained in detail in WO 94/17178 (Aug. 4, 1994, Freedman et al.), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The Cellcube® (Corning-Costar) module provides a large styrenic surface area for the immobilization and growth of substrate attached cells. It is an integrally encapsulated sterile single-use device that has a series of parallel culture plates joined to create thin sealed laminar flow spaces between adjacent plates.

The Cellcube® module has inlet and outlet ports that are diagonally opposite each other and help regulate the flow of media. During the first few days of growth the culture is generally satisfied by the media contained within the system after initial seeding. The amount of time between the initial seeding and the start of the media perfusion is dependent on the density of cells in the seeding inoculum and the cell growth rate. The measurement of nutrient concentration in the circulating media is a good indicator of the status of the culture. When establishing a procedure it may be necessary to monitor the nutrients composition at a variety of different perfusion rates to determine the most economical and productive operating parameters.

Other commercially available perfusion systems include, for example, CellPerf®(Laboratories MABIO International, Tourcoing, France) and the Stovall Flow Cell (Stovall Life Science, Inc., Greensboro, N.C.)

The timing and parameters of the production phase of cultures depends on the type and use of a particular cell line. Many cultures require a different media for production than is required for the growth phase of the culture. The transition from one phase to the other will likely require multiple washing steps in traditional cultures. However, one of the benefits of a perfusion system is the ability to provide a gentle transition between various operating phases. The perfusion system can also facilitate the transition from a growth phase to a static phase induced by an GR antagonist. Likewise, the perfusion system can facilitate the transition from a static phase to a growth phase by replacing the solution comprising an GR antagonist with, for example, a physiological nutrient media.

Formulations

The compounds of the invention may be administered enterally or parenterally. Mixed with pharmaceutically suitable auxiliaries, e.g., as described in the standard reference, Gennaro et al., Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences. The compounds may be compressed into solid dosage units, such as pills, tablets, or be processed into capsules or suppositories. By means of pharmaceutically suitable liquids the compounds can also be applied in the form of a solution, suspension, emulsion, e.g. for use as an injection preparation or eye drops, or as a spray, e.g. for use as a nasal spray.

For making dosage units, e.g., tablets, the use of conventional additives such as fillers, colorants, polymeric binders and the like is contemplated. In general, any pharmaceutically acceptable additive which does not interfere with the function of the active compounds can be used. Suitable carriers with which the compositions can be administered include lactose, starch, cellulose derivatives and the like, or mixtures thereof, used in suitable amounts.

Dosage Forms

The compositions of the present invention can be processed by agglomeration, air suspension chilling, air suspension drying, balling, coacervation, coating, comminution, compression, cryopelletization, encapsulation, extrusion, wet granulation, dry granulation, homogenization, inclusion complexation, lyophilization, melting, microencapsulation, mixing, molding, pan coating, solvent dehydration, sonication, spheronization, spray chilling, spray congealing, spray drying, or other processes known in the art. The compositions can be provided in the form of a minicapsule, a capsule, a tablet, an implant, a troche, a lozenge (minitablet), a temporary or permanent suspension, an ovule, a suppository, a wafer, a chewable tablet, a quick or fast dissolving tablet, an effervescent tablet, a buccal or sublingual solid, a granule, a film, a sprinkle, a pellet, a bead, a pill, a powder, a triturate, a platelet, a strip or a sachet. Compositions can also be administered as a “dry syrup”, where the finished dosage form is placed directly on the tongue and swallowed or followed with a drink or beverage. These forms are well known in the art and are packaged appropriately. The compositions can be formulated for oral, nasal, buccal, ocular, urethral, transmucosal, vaginal, topical or rectal delivery.

The pharmaceutical composition can be coated with one or more enteric coatings, seal coatings, film coatings, barrier coatings, compress coatings, fast disintegrating coatings, or enzyme degradable coatings. Multiple coatings can be applied for desired performance. Further, the dosage form can be designed for immediate release, pulsatile release, controlled release, extended release, delayed release, targeted release, synchronized release, or targeted delayed release. For release/absorption control, solid carriers can be made of various component types and levels or thicknesses of coats, with or without an active ingredient. Such diverse solid carriers can be blended in a dosage form to achieve a desired performance. The definitions of these terms are known to those skilled in the art. In addition, the dosage form release profile can be affected by a polymeric matrix composition, a coated matrix composition, a multiparticulate composition, a coated multiparticulate composition, an ion-exchange resin-based composition, an osmosis-based composition, or a biodegradable polymeric composition. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the release may be effected through favorable diffusion, dissolution, erosion, ion-exchange, osmosis or combinations thereof.

When formulated as a capsule, the capsule can be a hard or soft gelatin capsule, a starch capsule, or a cellulosic capsule. Although not limited to capsules, such dosage forms can further be coated with, for example, a seal coating, an enteric coating, an extended release coating, or a targeted delayed release coating. These various coatings are known in the art, but for clarity, the following brief descriptions are provided: seal coating, or coating with isolation layers: Thin layers of up to 20 microns in thickness can be applied for variety of reasons, including for particle porosity reduction, to reduce dust, for chemical protection, to mask taste, to reduce odor, to minimize gastrointestinal irritation, etc. The isolating effect is proportional to the thickness of the coating. Water soluble cellulose ethers are preferred for this application. HPMC and ethyl cellulose in combination, or Eudragit E100, may be particularly suitable for taste masking applications. Traditional enteric coating materials listed elsewhere can also be applied to form an isolating layer.

Extended release coatings are designed to effect delivery over an extended period of time. The extended release coating is a pH-independent coating formed of, for example, ethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, methylcellulose, hydroxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, acrylic esters, or sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. Various extended release dosage forms can be readily designed by one skilled in art to achieve delivery to both the small and large intestines, to only the small intestine, or to only the large intestine, depending upon the choice of coating materials and/or coating thickness.

Enteric coatings are mixtures of pharmaceutically acceptable excipients which are applied to, combined with, mixed with or otherwise added to the carrier or composition. The coating may be applied to a compressed or molded or extruded tablet, a gelatin capsule, and/or pellets, beads, granules or particles of the carrier or composition. The coating may be applied through an aqueous dispersion or after dissolving in appropriate solvent. Additional additives and their levels, and selection of a primary coating material or materials will depend on the following properties: 1. resistance to dissolution and disintegration in the stomach; 2. impermeability to gastric fluids and drug/carrier/enzyme while in the stomach; 3. ability to dissolve or disintegrate rapidly at the target intestine site; 4. physical and chemical stability during storage; 5. non-toxicity; 6. easy application as a coating (substrate friendly); and 7. economical practicality.

Dosage forms of the compositions of the present invention can also be formulated as enteric coated delayed release oral dosage forms, i.e., as an oral dosage form of a pharmaceutical composition as described herein which utilizes an enteric coating to affect release in the lower gastrointestinal tract. The enteric coated dosage form may be a compressed or molded or extruded tablet/mold (coated or uncoated) containing granules, pellets, beads or particles of the active ingredient and/or other composition components, which are themselves coated or uncoated. The enteric coated oral dosage form may also be a capsule (coated or uncoated) containing pellets, beads or granules of the solid carrier or the composition, which are themselves coated or uncoated.

Delayed release generally refers to the delivery so that the release can be accomplished at some generally predictable location in the lower intestinal tract more distal to that which would have been accomplished if there had been no delayed release alterations. The preferred method for delay of release is coating. Any coatings should be applied to a sufficient thickness such that the entire coating does not dissolve in the gastrointestinal fluids at pH below about 5, but does dissolve at pH about 5 and above. It is expected that any anionic polymer exhibiting a pH-dependent solubility profile can be used as an enteric coating in the practice of the present invention to achieve delivery to the lower gastrointestinal tract. Polymers for use in the present invention are anionic carboxylic polymers.

Shellac, also called purified lac, a refined product obtained from the, resinous secretion of an insect. This coating dissolves in media of pH>7.

Colorants, detackifiers, surfactants, antifoaming agents, lubricants, stabilizers such as hydroxy propyl cellulose, acid/base may be added to the coatings besides plasticizers to solubilize or disperse the coating material, and to improve coating performance and the coated product.

In carrying out the method of the present invention, the combination of the invention may be administered to mammalian species, such as dogs, cats, humans, etc. and as such may be incorporated in a conventional systemic dosage form, such as a tablet, capsule, elixir or injectable. The above dosage forms will also include the necessary carrier material, excipient, lubricant, buffer, antibacterial, bulking agent (such as mannitol), anti-oxidants (ascorbic acid of sodium bisulfite) or the like.

The dose administered must be carefully adjusted according to age, weight and condition of the patient, as well as the route of administration, dosage form and regimen and the desired result.

The pharmaceutical compositions of the invention may be administered in the dosage forms in single or divided doses of one to four times daily. It may be advisable to start a patient on a low dose combination and work up gradually to a high dose combination.

Tablets of various sizes can be prepared, e.g., of about 1 to 2000 mg in total weight, containing one or both of the active pharmaceutical ingredients, with the remainder being a physiologically acceptable carrier of other materials according to accepted pharmaceutical practice. These tablets can be scored to provide for fractional doses. Gelatin capsules can be similarly formulated.

Liquid formulations can also be prepared by dissolving or suspending one or the combination of active substances in a conventional liquid vehicle acceptable for pharmaceutical administration so as to provide the desired dosage in one to four teaspoonful.

Dosage forms can be administered to the patient on a regimen of, for example, one, two, three, four, five, six, or other doses per day

In order to more finely regulate the dosage schedule, the active substances may be administered separately in individual dosage units at the same time or carefully coordinated times. Since blood levels are built up and maintained by a regulated schedule of administration, the same result is achieved by the simultaneous presence of the two substances. The respective substances can be individually formulated in separate unit dosage forms in a manner similar to that described above.

In formulating the compositions, the active substances, in the amounts described above, may be compounded according to accepted pharmaceutical practice with a physiologically acceptable vehicle, carrier, excipient, binder, preservative, stabilizer, flavor, etc., in the particular type of unit dosage form.

Illustrative of the adjuvants which may be incorporated in tablets are the following: a binder such as gum tragacanth, acacia, corn starch or gelatin; an excipient such as dicalcium phosphate or cellulose; a disintegrating agent such as corn starch, potato starch, alginic acid or the like; a lubricant such as stearic acid or magnesium stearate; a sweetening agent such as sucrose, aspartame, lactose or saccharin; a flavoring agent such as orange, peppermint, oil of wintergreen or cherry. When the dosage unit form is a capsule, it may contain in addition to materials of the above type a liquid carrier such as a fatty oil. Various other materials may be present as coatings or to otherwise modify the physical form of the dosage unit. For instance, tablets or capsules may be coated with shellac, sugar or both. A syrup of elixir may contain the active compound, water, alcohol or the like as the carrier, glycerol as solubilizer, sucrose as sweetening agent, methyl and propyl parabens as preservatives, a dye and a flavoring such as cherry or orange.

One embodiment of this invention includes methods of treating, preventing, or diagnosing a particular disease or condition by administering the disclosed nanoparticles, composite nanoparticles, nanosuspension, or nanocapsules to a subject. In many instances, the nanoparticles, composite nanoparticles, or nanocapsules are administered alone or can be included within a pharmaceutical composition. An effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition, generally, is defined as that amount sufficient to ameliorate, reduce, minimize, or limit the extent of the disease or condition. More rigorous definitions may apply, including elimination, eradication, or cure of the disease or condition.

“Nanoparticles” are solid particles of an average particle diameter of, for example, less than about 1 micron (micrometer). One micron is 1,000 nanometers (nm).

“Stabilized” nanoparticles are nanoparticles coated with a stabilizing material and having a reduced tendency for aggregation and loss of dispersion with respect to nanoparticles of the compound of the invention without a stabilizing coating.

A nano-spray is a spray containing nanoparticles or a spray that produces nanoparticles. A nanodispersion is a dispersion containing nanoparticles. A nanosuspension is a suspension containing nanoparticles.

The liquid formulations useful herein may comprise a solvent, solution, suspension, microsuspension, nanosuspension, emulsion, microemulsion, gel or even a melt containing the active component or components. In some embodiments the nanoparticles, nanofibers, or nanofibrils may be in the form of, or within or on, granules, powders, suspensions, solutions, dissolvable films, mats, webs, tablets, or releasable forms particularly releasable dosage forms. Other particular useful forms are concentrates to which a diluting liquid is added prior to use. The product may also be sprayed onto the inner surface of a container to which a liquid is added later prior to use and the nanoparticles, nanofibers, or nanofibrils, are released into the liquid.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention can include nanoparticles, composite nanoparticles, nanosuspension, or nanocapsules of the present invention.

In certain non-limiting embodiments, pharmaceutical compositions may comprise, for example, at least about 0.1% of an active ingredient or nanoparticles, composite nanoparticles, or nanocapsules, for example. In other embodiments, the an active ingredient or nanoparticles, composite nanoparticles, or nanocapsules may comprise between about 2% to about 75% of the weight of the unit, or between about 25% to about 60%, for example, and any range derivable therein. In non-limiting examples of a derivable range from the numbers listed herein, a range of about 5 mg/kg/body weight to about 100 mg/kg/body weight, about 5 microgram/kg/body weight to about 500 milligram/kg/body weight, etc., can be administered.

The composition may also include various antioxidants to retard oxidation of one or more active ingredient or nanoparticles, composite nanoparticles, nanosuspension, or nanocapsules. The prevention of the action of microorganisms can be brought about by preservatives such as various antibacterial and antifungal agents, including but not limited to parabens (e.g., methylparabens, propylparabens), chlorobutanol, phenol, sorbic acid, thimerosal or combinations thereof.

In order to increase the effectiveness of a treatment with the nanoparticles, nanogels, composite nanoparticles, nanosuspension, or nanocapsules of the present invention, it may be desirable to combine these nanoparticles, composite nanoparticles, or nanocapsules with other therapies effective in the treatment of a particular disease or condition.

The formulations as described above may be administered for a prolonged period, that is, for as long as the potential for a disease or condition remains or the symptoms continue.

Packaging/Treatment Kits

The present invention relates to a kit for conveniently and effectively carrying out the methods in accordance with the present invention. Such kits may be suited for the delivery of solid oral forms such as tablets or capsules. Such a kit may include a number of unit dosages. Such kits can include a means for containing the dosages oriented in the order of their intended use. An example of a means for containing the dosages in the order of their intended uses is a card. An example of such a kit is a “blister pack”. Blister packs are well known in the packaging industry and are widely used for packaging pharmaceutical unit dosage forms. If desired, the blister can be in the form of a childproof blister, i.e., a blister that is difficult for a child to open, yet can be readily opened by an adult. If desired, a memory aid can be provided, for example in the form of numbers, letters, or other markings or with a calendar feature and/or calendar insert, designating the days and the sections of a day in the treatment schedule in which the dosages can be administered, such as an AM dose is packaged with a “mid day” and a PM dose.; or an AM dose is packaged with a PM dose. Alternatively, placebo dosages, or vitamin or dietary supplements, either in a form similar to or distinct from the pharmaceutical active dosages, can be included.

In one aspect, the package, kit or container comprises a “blister package” (also called a blister pack, or bubble pack). In one aspect, the blister package consists two or more separate compartments: Am dosage of this invention, and PM dosage of this invention, or mid-day dosage of this invention. This blister package is made up of two separate material elements: a transparent plastic cavity shaped to the product and its blister board backing. These two elements are then joined together with a heat sealing process which allows the product to be hung or displayed. Exemplary types of “blister packages” include: Face seal blister packages, gang run blister packages, mock blister packages, interactive blister packages, slide blister packages.

Blister packs, clamshells or trays are forms of packaging used for goods; thus, the invention provides for blister packs, clamshells or trays comprising a composition (e.g., a (the multi-ingredient combination of drugs of the invention) combination of active ingredients) of the invention. Blister packs, clamshells or trays can be designed to be non-reclosable, so consumers can tell if a package has already opened. They are used to package for sale goods where product tampering is a consideration, such as the pharmaceuticals of the invention. In one aspect, a blister pack of the invention comprises a moulded PVC base, with raised areas (the “blisters”) to contain the tablets, pills, etc. comprising the combinations of the invention, covered by a foil laminate. Tablets, pills, etc. are removed from the pack either by peeling the foil back or by pushing the blister to force the tablet to break the foil. In one aspect, a specialized form of a blister pack is a strip pack.

In one aspect, a blister pack also comprises a method of packaging where the compositions comprising combinations of ingredients of the invention are contained in-between a card and a clear PVC. The PVC can be transparent so the item (pill, tablet, geltab, etc.) can be seen and examined easily; and in one aspect, can be vacuum-formed around a mould so it can contain the item snugly and have room to be opened upon purchase. In one aspect, the card is brightly colored and designed depending on the item (pill, tablet, geltab, etc.) inside, and the PVC is affixed to the card using pre-formed tabs where the adhesive is placed. The adhesive can be strong enough so that the pack may hang on a peg, but weak enough so that this way one can tear open the join and access the item. Sometimes with large items or multiple enclosed pills, tablets, geltabs, etc., the card has a perforated window for access. In one aspect, more secure blister packs, e.g., for items such as pills, tablets, geltabs, etc. of the invention are used, and they can comprise of two vacuum-formed PVC sheets meshed together at the edges, with the informative card inside.

In one aspect, blister packaging comprises at least two components (e.g., is a multi-ingredient combination of drugs of the invention): a thermoformed “blister” which houses the product (e.g., a pharmaceutical combination of the invention), and then a “blister card” that is a printed card with an adhesive coating on the front surface. During the assembly process, the blister component, which is most commonly made out of PVC, is attached to the blister card using a blister machine. This machine introduces heat to the flange area of the blister which activates the glue on the card in that specific area and ultimately secures the PVG blister to the printed blister card. The thermoformed PVG blister and the printed blister card can be as small or large. Conventional blister packs can also be sealed (e.g., using an AERGO 8 DUO®, SCA Consumer Packaging, Inc., DeKalb, Ill.) using regular heat seal tooling. This alternative aspect, using heat seal tooling, can seal common types of thermoformed packaging.

As discussed herein, the products of manufacture of the invention can comprise the packaging of the therapeutic drug combinations of the invention, alone or in combination, as “blister packages” or as a plurality of packettes, including as lidded blister packages, lidded blister or blister card or packets, or a shrink wrap.

In one aspect, laminated aluminum foil blister packs are used, e.g., for the preparation of drugs designed to dissolve immediately in the mouth of a patient. This exemplary process comprises having the drug combinations of the invention prepared as an aqueous solution(s) which are dispensed (e.g., by measured dose) into an aluminum (e.g., alufoil) laminated tray portion of a blister pack. This tray is then freeze-dried to form tablets which take the shape of the blister pockets. The alufoil laminate of both the tray and lid fully protects any highly hygroscopic and/or sensitive individual doses. In one aspect, the pack incorporates a child-proof peel open security laminate. In one aspect, the system give tablets an identification mark by embossing a design into the alufoil pocket that is taken up by the tablets when they change from aqueous to solid state. In one aspect, individual ‘push-through’ blister packs/packettes are used, e.g., using hard temper aluminum (e.g., alufoil) lidding material. In one aspect, hermetically-sealed high barrier aluminum (e.g., alufoil) laminates are used. In one aspect, any of the invention's products of manufacture, including kits or blister packs, use foil laminations and strip packs, stick packs, sachets and pouches, peelable and non-peelable laminations combining foil, paper, and film for high barrier packaging.

Other means for containing said unit dosages can include bottles and vials, wherein the bottle or vial comprises a memory aid, such as a printed label for administering said unit dosage or dosages. The label can also contain removable reminder stickers for placement on a calendar or dayminder to further help the patient to remember when to take a dosage or when a dosage has been taken.

Topical Formulations

The term “topical” as employed herein relates to the use of a compound, derivative or analogue as described herein, incorporated in a suitable pharmaceutical carrier, and applied at the site for exertion of local action. Accordingly, such topical compositions including those forms in which the compound is applied externally by direct contact with the skin surface to be treated. Conventional forms for this purpose include ointments, liniments, creams, shampoos, lotions, pastes, jellies, sprays, aerosols, soaps, and the like, and may be applied in patches or impregnated dressings depending on the part of the body to be treated. The term “ointment” embraces formulations (including creams) having oleaginous, absorption, water-soluble and emulsion-type bases, e.g., petrolatum, lanolin, polyethylene glycols, as well as mixtures of these.

For topical use, the agent of the invention can be advantageously formulated using ointments, creams, liniments or patches as a carrier of the active ingredient. Also, these formulations may or may not contain preservatives, depending on the dispenser and nature of use. Such preservatives include those mentioned above, and methyl-, propyl-, or butyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid, betain, chlorhexidine, benzalkonium chloride, and the like. Various matrices for slow release delivery may also be used. Typically, the dose to be applied is in the range of about 0.1 ng to about 100 mg per day, or about 1 ng to about 10 mg per day, or about 10 ng to about 1 mg per day depending on the formulation. Non-limiting examples of topical products can include, without limitation, application stick, mascara, eyebrow coloring products, eye shadow or other eye lid coloring products, eyeliner, make-up removal products, antiaging products, facial or body powder, nail polish, mousse, sprays, styling gels, nail conditioner, bath and shower gels, shampoos, conditioners, cream rinses, hair dyes and coloring products, hair conditioners, sun tanning lotions and creams and sprays, sunscreens and sunblocks, skin conditioners, cold creams, moisturizers, hair sprays, soaps, body scrubs, exfoliants, astringents, depilatories and permanent waving solutions, antidandruff formulations, antisweat and antiperspirant compositions, shaving, preshaving and after shaving products, moisturizers, deodorants, cold creams, cleansers, skin gels, and rinses.

Furthermore, the topical product can be applied topically through the use of a patch or other delivery device. Delivery devices can include, but are not limited to, those that can be heated or cooled, as well as those that utilize iontophoresis or ultrasound.

For instance, the topical product can be applied, for example, by applying a composition in the form of a skin lotion, clear lotion, milky lotion, cream, gel, foam, ointment, paste, emulsion, spray, conditioner, tonic, cosmetic, application stick, pencil, foundation, nail polish, after-shave, or the like which is intended to be left on the skin or other keratinous tissue (i.e., a “leave-on” composition). After applying the composition to the keratinous tissue (e.g., skin), it in one embodiment, it is left on for a period of at least about 15 minutes, or at least about 30 minutes, or at least about 1 hour, or for at least several hours, e.g., up to about 12 hours. In one embodiment, the topical product is left on overnight. In another embodiment, the topical product is left on all day. Any part of the external portion of the face, hair, and/or nails can be treated, (e.g., face, lips, under-eye area, eyelids, scalp, neck, torso, arms, legs, chest, hands, legs, feet, fingernails, toenails, scalp hair, eyelashes, eyebrows, etc.)

Any suitable method can be used to apply the topical product, including but not limited to for example using the palms of the hands and/or fingers or a device or implement (e.g., a cotton ball, swab, pad, applicator pen, spray applicator, eyebrow brush, eyebrow brush pencil, pencil, mascara brush, etc.) Another approach to ensure a continuous exposure of the keratinous tissue to at least a minimum level of the topical product is to apply the compound by use of a patch applied, e.g., to the face. The patch can be occlusive, semi-occlusive or non-occlusive, and can be adhesive or non-adhesive. The topical product can be contained within the patch or be applied to the skin prior to application of the patch. The patch can also include additional actives such as chemical initiators for exothermic reactions such as those described in PCT application WO 9701313, and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,821,250, 5,981,547, and 5,972,957 to Wu, et al. The patch can be left on the for any suitable period of time. For example, a period of at least about 5 minutes, or at least about 15 minutes, or at least about 30 minutes, or at least about 1 hour, or at night as a form of night therapy, or in another embodiment all day.

Administration

The pharmaceutical compositions may be optimized for particular types of delivery. For example, pharmaceutical compositions for oral delivery are formulated using pharmaceutically acceptable carriers that are well known in the art. The carriers enable the agents in the composition to be formulated, for example, as a tablet, pill, capsule, solution, suspension, sustained release formulation; powder, liquid or gel for oral ingestion by the subject.

The pharmaceutical compositions may also be delivered in an aerosol spray preparation from a pressurized pack, a nebulizer or from a dry powder inhaler. Suitable propellants that can be used in a nebulizer include, for example, dichlorodifluoro-methane, trichlorofluoromethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethane and carbon dioxide. The dosage can be determined by providing a valve to deliver a regulated amount of the compound in the case of a pressurized aerosol.

Compositions for inhalation or insufflation include solutions and suspensions in pharmaceutically acceptable, aqueous or organic solvents, or mixtures thereof, and powders. The liquid or solid compositions may contain suitable pharmaceutically acceptable excipients as set out above. Preferably the compositions are administered by the oral, intranasal or respiratory route for local or systemic effect. Compositions in preferably sterile pharmaceutically acceptable solvents may be nebulized by use of inert gases. Nebulized solutions may be breathed directly from the nebulizing device or the nebulizing device may be attached to a face mask, tent or intermittent positive pressure breathing machine. Solution, suspension or powder compositions may be administered, preferably orally or nasally, from devices that deliver the formulation in an appropriate manner.

Typically, the composition may be applied repeatedly for a sustained period of time topically on the part of the body to be treated, for example, the eyelids, eyebrows, skin or scalp. The dosage regimen will generally involve regular, such as daily, administration for a period of treatment of at least one month, or at least three months, or at least six months.

Alternatively, the composition may be applied intermittently, or in a pulsed manner. Accordingly, an alternative embodiment of the invention is to apply the composition on an intermittent or pulsed dosage schedule. For example, the composition of the invention may be used for two or more days, stopped, then restarted again at a time from between 2 weeks to 3 months later, and at even more long-spaced intervals in the case of the scalp.

The routes of administration of a compound of the present invention will vary, naturally, with the location and nature of the condition to be treated, and include, e.g., inhalation, intradermal, transdemial, parenteral, intravenous, intramuscular, intranasal, subcutaneous, percutaneous, intratracheal, intraperitoneal, intratumoral, perfusion, lavage, direct injection, and oral administration and formulation. As detailed below, GR antagonists may be administered as medical gases by inhalation or intubation, as injectable liquids by intravascular, intravenous, intra-arterial, intracerobroventicular, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous administration, as topical liquids or gels, or in solid oral dosage forms.

Moreover, the amounts may vary depending on the type of biological matter (cell type, tissue type, organism genus and species, etc.) and/or its size (weight, surface area, etc.). It will generally be the case that the larger the organism, the larger the dose. Therefore, an effective amount for a mouse will generally be lower than an effective amount for a rat, which will generally be lower than an effective amount for a dog, which will generally be lower than an effective amount for a human. The effective concentration of a compound of the present invention to achieve stasis, for example, in a human depends on the dosage form and route of administration. For inhalation, in some embodiments effective concentrations are in the range of 50 ppm to 500 ppm, delivered continuously. For intravenous administration, in some embodiments effective concentrations are in the range of 0.5 to 50 milligrams per kilogram of body weight delivered continuously.

Similarly, the length of time of administration may vary depending on the type of biological matter (cell type, tissue type, organism genus and species, etc.) and/or its size (weight, surface area, etc.) and will depend in part upon dosage form and route of administration. In particular embodiments, a compound of the present invention may be provided for about or at least 30 seconds, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, four hours five hours, six hours, eight hours, twelve hours, twenty-four hours, or greater than twenty-four hours. A compound of the present invention may be administered in a single dos or multiple doses, with varying amounts of time between administered doses.

The treatments may include various “unit doses.” Unit dose is defined as containing a predetermined-quantity of the therapeutic composition. The quantity to be administered, and the particular route and formulation, are within the skill of those in the clinical arts. A unit dose need not be administered as a single injection but may comprise continuous infusion over a set period of time. Alternatively, the amount specified may be the amount administered as the average daily, average weekly, or average monthly dose.

In the case of transplant, the present invention may be used pre- and or post-operatively to render host or graft materials quiescent. In a specific embodiment, a 30 surgical site may be injected or perfused with a formulation comprising an GR antagonist. The perfusion may be continued post-surgery, for example, by leaving a catheter implanted at the site of the surgery.

Further Delivery Devices or Apparatuses

In some embodiments it is contemplated that methods or compositions will involve a specific delivery device or apparatus. Any method discussed herein can be implemented with any device for delivery or administration including, but not limited, to those discussed herein.

For topical administration of GR antagonists of the invention may be formulated as solutions, gels, ointments, creams, suspensions, etc. as are well-known in the art. Systemic formulations may include those designed for administration by injection or infusion, e.g., subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intrathecal or intraperitoneal injection, as well as those designed for transdermal, transmucosal, oral or pulmonary administration.

For oral administration, the GR antagonists of the invention to be formulated as tablets, pills, dragees, capsules, liquids, gels, syrups, slurries, suspensions and the like, for oral ingestion by a patient to be treated or oral liquid preparations such as, for example, suspensions, elixirs and solutions.

For buccal administration, the compositions may take the form of tablets, lozenges, etc. formulated in conventional manner. Other intramucosal delivery might be by suppository or intranasally.

For administration directly to the lung by inhalation the compound of invention may be conveniently delivered to the lung by a number of different devices.

Another drug delivery system comprises one or more ball semiconductor aggregations and facilitating release of a drug stored in a reservoir. The first aggregate is used for sensing and memory, and a second aggregation for control aspects, such as for pumping and dispensing of the drug. The system may communicate with a remote control system, or operate independently on local power over a long period for delivery of the drug based upon a request of the patient, timed-release under control by the system, or delivery in accordance with measured markers. See U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,687, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

PUMPS and Infusion Devices: An infusion pump or perfusor infuses fluids, medication or nutrients into a patient's circulatory system. Infusion pumps can administer fluids in very reliable and inexpensive ways. For example, they can administer as little as 0.1 mL per hour injections (too small for a drip), injections every minute, injections with repeated boluses requested by the patient, up to maximum number per hour (e.g. in patient-controlled analgesia), or fluids whose volumes vary by the time of day.

Implantable Drug Delivery System: Another drug delivery system comprises one or more ball semiconductor aggregations and facilitating release of a drug stored in a reservoir. The first aggregate is used for sensing and memory, and a second aggregation for control aspects, such as for pumping and dispensing of the drug. The system may communicate with a remote control system, or operate independently on local power over a long period for delivery of the drug based upon a request of the patient, timed-release under control by the system, or delivery in accordance with measured markers. See U.S. Pat. No. 6,464,687, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Diagnostic Systems and Kits

A diagnostic kit may comprise some or all of the following components: 1) one or more standards comprised of one or more of the biomarker(s) of the invention, such as cortisol; 2) a ligand, such as an antibody or a plurality of antibodies, that are specific for the biomarker(s) that are to be assayed for using the kit; 3) written instructions; 4) diluents for samples and the standards; 5) a wash buffer; 6) color reagents; 7) stop solution; and 8) a ligand carrier, such as an antibody carrier, for example, a lateral flow device, or a microplate with bound antibody, or polystyrene beads. An example of such a kit is set forth in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20120201747 (Altschul et al.), incorporated herein in its entirety.

The invention will be illustrated in more detail with reference to the following Examples, but it should be understood that the present invention is not deemed to be limited thereto.

EXAMPLES Example 1

ORG 34517 co-administration with ethanol significantly reduces ethanol withdrawal behavioral abnormalities. (FIG. 1A). Once daily administration of the selective glucocorticoid receptor antagonist ORG34517 (20 mg/kg; s c) immediately prior to binge ethanol administration (i.g.) at 0800 hrs on 4 consecutive days significantly reduced behavioral symptoms of the ethanol withdrawal syndrome in adult male rats. Reductions in whole body tremor and wet shakes were most evident. *=P<0.05 vs control; **=P<0.001 vs ethanol withdrawal (EtOH WD). Peak blood ethanol levels were 180.27-103.5 mg/dl across the 4 day regimen. Administration of ORG 34517 to ethanol-naïve rats did not alter behavior in any manner. Further, mean intoxication ratings, determined 8 hrs after each of 3 ethanol administrations per day, over 4 days, were not altered by ORG34517 administration, as compared to intoxication ratings obtained in animals receiving ethanol and ORG 34517 vehicle only. (FIG. 1B)

These findings demonstrate that specific pharmacological inhibition of glucocorticoid receptors during ethanol intoxication markedly reduces behavioral symptoms of ethanol withdrawal, an effect that is not related to reductions in ethanol intoxication or other untoward effects.

Example 2

Corticosterone's exacerbation of ethanol withdrawal toxicity is blocked by ORG 3457 coadministration. Exposure of organotypic hippocampal slice cultures to corticosterone (1 μM) with ethanol (50 mM), followed by 1 day of ethanol withdrawal in the presence of corticosterone produce significant toxicity (uptake of the non-vital marker propidium iodide, shown below) in CA1 region pyramidal cells (20×). (FIG. 2). Exposure to corticosterone or ORG 34517HCl (100 μM) alone did not alter propidium iodide uptake. Co-exposure to the selective glucocorticoid receptor antagonist ORG 34517 with ethanol and corticosterone prevented this withdrawal toxicity. Representative PI images above, graphed below. *=P<0.05 vs control; **=P<0.05 vs EtOH WD+CORT.

These findings demonstrate that specific pharmacological inhibition of glucocorticoid receptors during ethanol exposure markedly reduces ethanol withdrawal-induced neuronal excitability and injury in vitro.

While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific examples thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for treating or preventing addiction, addiction induced anxiety, and/or withdrawal symptoms wherein said method comprises administering to a patient in need of such therapy at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist in a therapeutically effective amount.
 2. The method, according to claim 1, wherein the at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist is in a pharmaceutical preparation.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist is selected from the group consisting of ORG 34517, 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives, and 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives of formula I

wherein A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring containing 2 heteroatoms which are not connected to each other and independently selected from O and S, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms, or A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring wherein no double C—C bonds are present, containing 1 heteroatom selected from O and S, which heteroatom is connected to the phenyl group at the position indicated with an asterisk, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms; R1 is H or 1-oxo(1-4C)alkyl; R2 is H, (1-8C)alkyl, halogen or CF3; X is selected from (H,OH), O, and NOH; and the interrupted line represents an optional bond.
 4. A method of treating or preventing addiction, addiction induced anxiety, and/or withdrawal symptoms in a patient in need thereof, comprising: administering a composition comprising: i) a first therapeutic agent which is a GCR antagonist, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof; ii) at least one or possibly more additional therapeutic agent(s) selected from the group consisting of anxiolytics, antidepressants, neuroleptics, or other psychotropic medications and combinations thereof; and iii) at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the first and second therapeutic agents are each present in an amount which, in combination, is a therapeutically effective amount for treating or preventing addiction, addiction induced anxiety, and/or withdrawal symptoms.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the second therapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of at least one anti-anxiety drug, at least one anti-depressant drug, and at least one neuroleptic medication and combinations thereof, wherein the at least one anti-anxiety drug is selected from the group consisting of alprazolam, bromazepam, diazepam, lorazepam, clonazepam, temazepam, oxazepam, flunitrazepam, triazolam, chlordiazepoxide, flurazepam, estazolam, nitrazepam, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, isomers, and mixtures thereof; and/or at least one anti-depressant drug selected from the group consisting of citalopram, escitalopram oxalate, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, dapoxetine; venlafaxine and duloxetine; harmaline, iproniazid, isocarboxazid, nialamide, pargyline, phenelzine, selegiline, toloxatone, tranylcypromine, brofaromine, moclobemide; amitriptyline, amoxapine, butriptyline, clomipramine, desipramine, dibenzepin, dothiepin, doxepin, imipramine, iprindole, lofepramine, melitracen, nortriptyline, opipramol, protriptyline, trimipramine; maprotiline, mianserin, nefazodone, trazodone, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, isomers, and combinations thereof, and/or at least one neuroleptic drug selected from the group consisting of Haloperidol, Droperidol, Benperidol, Triperidol, Melperone, Lenperone, azaperone, Domperidone, risperidone, Chlorpromazine, Fluphenazine, Perphenazine, Prochlorperazine, Thioridazine, Trifluoperazine, Mesoridazine, Periciazine, Promazine, Triflupromazine, Levomepromazine, Promethazine, Pimozide, Cyamemazine, Chlorprothixene, Clopenthixol, Flupenthixol, Thiothixene, Zuclopenthixol, Clozapine, Olanzapine, Risperidone, Quetiapine, Ziprasidone, Amisulpride, Asenapine, Paliperidone, Iloperidone, Zotepine, Sertindole, Lurasidone, Aripiprazole, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, isomers, and combinations thereof.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the GCR antagonist is selected from the group consisting of ORG 34517, 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives, and 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives of formula I

wherein A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring containing 2 heteroatoms which are not connected to each other and independently selected from O and S, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms, or A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring wherein no double C—C bonds are present, containing 1 heteroatom selected from O and S, which heteroatom is connected to the phenyl group at the position indicated with an asterisk, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms; R1 is H or 1-oxo(1-4C)alkyl; R2 is H, (1-8C)alkyl, halogen or CF3; X is selected from (H,OH), O, and NOH; and the interrupted line represents an optional bond.
 7. A method of treating or preventing addiction, addiction induced anxiety, and/or withdrawal symptoms in a patient, comprising the steps of: a) obtaining a test sample from the patient, optionally at a predetermined time, using a test sample collection unit; b) combining said test sample with a buffering system to form a mixture in a reaction unit; c) measuring a parameter of the mixture to determine a blank measurement; d) combining said test sample and buffer mixture with a labeled ligand which binds cortisol, wherein the labeled ligand is provided in a label unit, in the reaction unit to produce an assay solution; or combining said test sample and buffer mixture and delivering it to a carrier containing a labeled ligand which binds cortisol, wherein the labeled ligand is provided in a label unit, in the reaction unit to produce an assay immobilized complex; e) measuring a parameter of said assay solution or complex; f) comparing the measurement of the assay solution relative to the blank measurement; g) determining the patient's circulating cortisol levels based on the change of the measurement; h) comparing the measured cortisol levels to a predetermined reference range cortisol levels, wherein when the level of cortisol is elevated relative to the a predetermined reference range, then the patient has elevated cortisol, and thus is suitable for GCR (glucocorticoid receptor) antagonist therapy; and i) when the patient is suitable for GCR antagonist therapy, administering at least one GCR antagonist, thereby treating or preventing addiction, addiction induced anxiety, and/or withdrawal symptoms in the patient.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the patient's test sample is selected from the group consisting of saliva, blood, plasma, serum, urine, other bodily fluids, and combinations thereof.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the sample is obtained from the patient one time, selected from the group consisting of morning, noon, and evening.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein the sample is obtained from the patient over more than one time, and the predetermined time is selected to determine the nature of the cortisol circadian rhythm (including its possible disruption or elimination) from the group consisting of morning, noon, and evening.
 11. The method of claim 7, wherein the sample is obtained from the patient over consecutive days.
 12. The method of claim 7, wherein the method is to determine the circadian cycle of the cortisol levels in the patient, and the predetermined time is selected from the group consisting of hourly, every 4 hours, every 6 hours, every 8 hours, and every 12 hours.
 13. The method of claim 7, wherein the predetermined reference range is a medically standard reference range.
 14. The method of claim 7, wherein the predetermined reference range is the patient's previously measured level.
 15. The method of claim 7, wherein the ligand is detectably labeled with a moiety selected from the group consisting of a radioisotope, a fluorophore, a quencher of fluorescence, an enzyme, an affinity tag, and an epitope tag.
 16. The method of claim 7, wherein said measuring of said parameter of said mixture and said assay solution is performed using a method selected from spectroscopic, photochemical, radiochemical, biochemical, enzymatic, immunochemical, chemical label displacement, surface plasmon resonance, fluorescence resonance energy transfer, fluorescence quenching, lateral flow, and fluorescence polarization means.
 17. The method of claim 7, wherein the GCR (glucocorticoid receptor) antagonist is selected from the group consisting of ORG 34517, 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives, and 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives of formula I

wherein A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring containing 2 heteroatoms which are not connected to each other and independently selected from O and S, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms, or A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring wherein no double C—C bonds are present, containing 1 heteroatom selected from O and S, which heteroatom is connected to the phenyl group at the position indicated with an asterisk, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms; R1 is H or 1-oxo(1-4C)alkyl; R2 is H, (1-8C)alkyl, halogen or CF3; X is selected from (H,OH), O, and NOH; and the interrupted line represents an optional bond.
 18. A kit for treating or preventing addiction, addiction induced anxiety, and/or withdrawal symptoms comprising: (a) a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist in a therapeutically effective amount; and (b) at least one blister package; a lidded blister; a blister card or packet; a clamshell; an intravenous (IV) package, IV packette or IV container; a tray or a shrink wrap comprising the pharmaceutical composition of (a) and instructions for use of the pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing addiction, addiction induced anxiety, and/or withdrawal symptoms.
 19. A product of manufacture for treating or preventing addiction, addiction induced anxiety, and/or withdrawal symptoms comprising a blister package; a lidded blister; a blister card or packet; a clamshell; an intravenous (IV) package, IV packette or IV container; a tray or a shrink wrap comprising a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, and instructions for treating or preventing addiction, addiction induced anxiety, and/or withdrawal symptoms.
 20. A method for treating bone fracture and/or a bone related injury wherein said method comprises administering, to a patient in need of such therapy, at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist in a therapeutically effective amount.
 21. The method, according to claim 20, wherein the at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist is in a pharmaceutical preparation.
 22. The method of claim 20, wherein the GCR (glucocorticoid receptor) antagonist is selected from the group consisting of ORG 34517, 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives, and 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives of formula I

wherein A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring containing 2 heteroatoms which are not connected to each other and independently selected from O and S, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms, or A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring wherein no double C—C bonds are present, containing 1 heteroatom selected from O and S, which heteroatom is connected to the phenyl group at the position indicated with an asterisk, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms; R1 is H or 1-oxo(1-4C)alkyl; R2 is H, (1-8C)alkyl, halogen or CF3; X is selected from (H,OH), O, and NOH; and the interrupted line represents an optional bond.
 23. The method according to claim 20, wherein the GCR antagonist is administered intravenously, intradermally, intraarterially, intraperitoneally, intralesionally, intracranially, intraarticularly, intraprostaticaly, intrapleurally, intratracheally, intranasally, intrathecally, intravitreally, intravaginally, intrarectally, intratumorally, intramuscularly, intraperitoneally, intraocularly, subcutaneously, subconjunctival, intravesicularlly, mucosally, intrapericardially, intraumbilically, intraocularally, orally, topically, locally, by inhalation, by injection, by infusion, by continuous infusion, by localized perfusion, by direct application during surgery, via a catheter, via a lavage, or through catheterization, immersion, absorption, or adsorption.
 24. The method of claim 20 wherein the method comprises administering the pharmaceutical composition to tissue surrounding the fracture.
 25. The method of claim 20 wherein administration of the pharmaceutical composition comprises injecting the pharmaceutical composition into tissue surrounding the fracture.
 26. The method of claim 20, wherein the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist is selected from the group consisting of ORG 34517, 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives, and 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives of formula I

wherein A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring containing 2 heteroatoms which are not connected to each other and independently selected from O and S, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms, or A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring wherein no double C—C bonds are present, containing 1 heteroatom selected from O and S, which heteroatom is connected to the phenyl group at the position indicated with an asterisk, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms; R1 is H or 1-oxo(1-4C)alkyl; R2 is H, (1-8C)alkyl, halogen or CF3; X is selected from (H,OH), O, and NOH; and the interrupted line represents an optional bond.
 27. A kit for treating bone fracture and/or a bone related injury comprising: (a) a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist in a therapeutically effective amount; and (b) at least one blister package; a lidded blister; a blister card or packet; a clamshell; an intravenous (IV) package, IV packette or IV container; a tray or a shrink wrap comprising the pharmaceutical composition of (a) and instructions for use of the pharmaceutical composition for treating bone fracture and/or a bone related injury.
 28. A product of manufacture for treating bone fracture and/or a bone related injury comprising a blister package; a lidded blister; a blister card or packet; a clamshell; an intravenous (IV) package, IV packette or IV container; a tray or a shrink wrap comprising a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, and instructions for treating bone fracture and/or a bone related injury.
 29. A method for treating or preventing osteoporosis, whether stress induced or related to dysregulated or elevated cortisol of the elderly, wherein said method comprises administering, to a patient in need of such therapy, at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist in a therapeutically effective amount.
 30. The method, according to claim 29, wherein the at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist is in a pharmaceutical preparation.
 31. The method of claim 29, wherein the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist is selected from the group consisting of ORG 34517, 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives, and 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives of formula I

wherein A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring containing 2 heteroatoms which are not connected to each other and independently selected from O and S, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms, or A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring wherein no double C—C bonds are present, containing 1 heteroatom selected from O and S, which heteroatom is connected to the phenyl group at the position indicated with an asterisk, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms; R1 is H or 1-oxo(1-4C)alkyl; R2 is H, (1-8C)alkyl, halogen or CF3; X is selected from (H,OH), O, and NOH; and the interrupted line represents an optional bond.
 32. The method according to claim 29, wherein the GCR antagonist is administered intravenously, intradermally, intraarterially, intraperitoneally, intralesionally, intracranially, intraarticularly, intranasally, intrarectally, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, orally, topically, locally, by inhalation, by injection, by infusion, by continuous infusion, by localized perfusion, by direct application during surgery, via a catheter, via a lavage, or through catheterization, immersion, absorption, or adsorption.
 33. A kit for treating or preventing osteoporosis, whether stress induced or related to dysregulated or elevated cortisol of the elderly, comprising: (a) a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist in a therapeutically effective amount; and (b) at least one blister package; a lidded blister; a blister card or packet; a clamshell; an intravenous (IV) package, IV packette or IV container; a tray or a shrink wrap comprising the pharmaceutical composition of (a) and instructions for use of the pharmaceutical composition for treating or preventing stress induced osteoporosis.
 34. A product of manufacture for treating or preventing osteoporosis, whether stress induced or related to dysregulated or elevated cortisol of the elderly, comprising a blister package; a lidded blister; a blister card or packet; a clamshell; an intravenous (IV) package, IV packette or IV container; a tray or a shrink wrap comprising a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, and instructions for treating or preventing osteoporosis, whether stress induced or related to dysregulated or elevated cortisol of the elderly.
 35. A method for enhancing post-transplant functioning of stem cells in a patient in need of such treatment comprising the steps of: providing stem cells, whether embryonic stem cells, stem cells derived from embryonic stem cells or their differentiated progeny, induced pluripotent stem cells or their progeny, fetal stem cells or their differentiated progeny, and post-natal (adult) stem cells or their differentiated progeny, or of tissues derived from any of these. treating the stem cells or stem cell-derived, differentiated progeny with at least one GCR antagonist in preparation for transplanatation; and introducing the treated stem cells into the patient.
 36. The method of claim 35, wherein the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist is selected from the group consisting of ORG 34517, 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives, and 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives of formula I

wherein A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring containing 2 heteroatoms which are not connected to each other and independently selected from O and S, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms, or A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring wherein no double C—C bonds are present, containing 1 heteroatom selected from O and S, which heteroatom is connected to the phenyl group at the position indicated with an asterisk, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms; R1 is H or 1-oxo(1-4C)alkyl; R2 is H, (1-8C)alkyl, halogen or CF3; X is selected from (H,OH), O, and NOH; and the interrupted line represents an optional bond.
 37. The method according to claim 35, wherein the treated stem cells are administered intravenously, intradermally, intraarterially, intraperitoneally, intralesionally, intracranially, intraarticularly, intraprostaticaly, intrapleurally, intratracheally, intranasally, intrathecally, intravitreally, intravaginally, intrarectally, intratumorally, intramuscularly, intraperitoneally, intraocularly, subcutaneously, subconjunctival, intravesicularlly, mucosally, intrapericardially, intraumbilically, intraocularally, orally, topically, locally, by inhalation, by injection, by infusion, by continuous infusion, by localized perfusion, by direct application during surgery, via a catheter, via a lavage, or through catheterization, immersion, absorption, or adsorption.
 38. A pharmaceutical composition for enhancing post-transplant functioning of stem cells in mammals, comprising: a therapeutically effective amount of the treated stem cells, whether embryonic stem cells, stem cells derived from embryonic stem cells or their differentiated progeny, induced pluripotent stem cells or their progeny, fetal stem cells or their differentiated progeny, and post-natal (adult) stem cells or their differentiated progeny, or of tissues derived from any of these, of claim 36; and a pharmaceutically acceptable medium or carrier.
 39. A method for reducing post-transplant rejection of a transplanted organ and/or improving graft functioning and survival comprising the steps of: providing an organ to be transplanted; treating the organ with a GCR antagonist prior to transplantation: and implanting the organ to a patient in need of such treatment.
 40. The method of claim 39, wherein the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist is selected from the group consisting of ORG 34517, 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives, and 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives of formula I

wherein A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring containing 2 heteroatoms which are not connected to each other and independently selected from O and S, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms, or A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring wherein no double C—C bonds are present, containing 1 heteroatom selected from O and S, which heteroatom is connected to the phenyl group at the position indicated with an asterisk, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms; R1 is H or 1-oxo(1-4C)alkyl; R2 is H, (1-8C)alkyl, halogen or CF3; X is selected from (H,OH), O, and NOH; and the interrupted line represents an optional bond.
 41. A method for reducing post-transplantation rejection and/or improving graft functioning and survival comprising treating a patient in need of such treatment with a GCR antagonist.
 42. The method of claim 41, wherein the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist is selected from the group consisting of ORG 34517, 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives, and 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives of formula I

wherein A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring containing 2 heteroatoms which are not connected to each other and independently selected from O and S, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms, or A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring wherein no double C—C bonds are present, containing 1 heteroatom selected from O and S, which heteroatom is connected to the phenyl group at the position indicated with an asterisk, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms; R1 is H or 1-oxo(1-4C)alkyl; R2 is H, (1-8C)alkyl, halogen or CF3; X is selected from (H,OH), O, and NOH; and the interrupted line represents an optional bond.
 43. The method according to claim 41, wherein the GCR antagonist is administered to the organ graft, prior to transplantation, intravascularly, intraarterially, intravenously or in a tissue or immersion of the whole or part of the organ.
 44. A kit for reducing post-transplantation rejection and/or improving graft functioning and survival comprising: (a) a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist in a therapeutically effective amount; and (b) organ preservation fluid.
 45. A kit for reducing post-transplantation rejection and/or improving graft functioning and survival comprising: (a) a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist in a therapeutically effective amount; and (b) at least one blister package; a lidded blister; a blister card or packet; a clamshell; an intravenous (IV) package, IV packette or IV container; a tray or a shrink wrap comprising the pharmaceutical composition of (a) and instructions for use of the pharmaceutical composition for reducing post-transplantation rejection.
 46. A product of manufacture for reducing post-transplantation rejection comprising a blister package; a lidded blister; a blister card or packet; a clamshell; an intravenous (IV) package, IV packette or IV container; a tray or a shrink wrap comprising a pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, and instructions for reducing post-transplantation rejection and/or improving post-transplant graft functioning and survival.
 47. A method for improving wound healing and preventing excessive scar formation in a patient in need thereof, comprising administering to a mammal a therapeutically effective amount of glucocorticoid receptor antagonist.
 48. The method of claim 47, wherein the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist is selected from the group consisting of ORG 34517, 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives, and 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives of formula I

wherein A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring containing 2 heteroatoms which are not connected to each other and independently selected from O and S, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms, or A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring wherein no double C—C bonds are present, containing 1 heteroatom selected from O and S, which heteroatom is connected to the phenyl group at the position indicated with an asterisk, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms; R1 is H or 1-oxo(1-4C)alkyl; R2 is H, (1-8C)alkyl, halogen or CF3; X is selected from (H,OH), O, and NOH; and the interrupted line represents an optional bond.
 49. The method according to claim 47, wherein the wound is treated with glucocorticoid receptor antagonist whereby the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist is administered intravenously, intradermally, intraarterially, intraperitoneally, intralesionally, intracranially, intraarticularly, intraprostaticaly, intrapleurally, intratracheally, intranasally, intrathecally, intravitreally, intravaginally, intrarectally, intratumorally, intramuscularly, intraperitoneally, intraocularly, subcutaneously, subconjunctival, intravesicularlly, mucosally, intrapericardially, intraumbilically, intraocularally, orally, topically, locally, by inhalation, by injection, by infusion, by continuous infusion, by localized perfusion, by direct application during surgery, via a catheter, via a lavage, or through catheterization, immersion, absorption, or adsorption, or by topical application of bandage, gauze or sutures impregnated with antagonist.
 50. A pharmaceutical composition for improving wound healing and prevention of excessive scarring, comprising: a therapeutically effective amount of the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, selected from the group consisting of ORG 34517, 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives, and 11-(substituted phenyl)-estra-4,9-diene derivatives of formula I

wherein A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring containing 2 heteroatoms which are not connected to each other and independently selected from O and S, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms, or A is a residue of a 5- or 6-membered ring wherein no double C—C bonds are present, containing 1 heteroatom selected from O and S, which heteroatom is connected to the phenyl group at the position indicated with an asterisk, the ring being optionally substituted with one or more halogen atoms; R1 is H or 1-oxo(1-4C)alkyl; R2 is H, (1-8C)alkyl, halogen or CF3; X is selected from (H,OH), O, and NOH; and the interrupted line represents an optional bond; and a pharmaceutically acceptable medium or carrier. 